“No National Progress Without Girl-Child Education,” Declares Ogun Commissioner

ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has stated that national development is impossible without investing in the education of the girl-child, describing it as an indispensable requirement for the nation’s future.

Speaking at the 2025 International Day of the Girl-Child celebration in Abeokuta, Commissioner Adeleye called on community leaders, religious figures, and development partners to bolster government efforts in creating an enabling environment for girls to access quality and technological education.

The event, held at the Obas Complex in Oke-Mosan, was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Aligning with this year’s theme, “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis,” Adeleye reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to advancing girl-child education, protection, and empowerment. She highlighted several ongoing initiatives, including a World Bank-supported program providing children, especially girls, with opportunities in technical education.

A key program she highlighted was the 2025 Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training Programme, implemented with Lafarge Cement. The scheme is designed to bridge gender gaps in non-traditional trades by equipping young women aged 18 to 30 with practical skills for the construction industry.

“As a Ministry, we remain firmly committed to investing deliberately in girls education and leadership, protecting them from all forms of violence and exploitation… and creating inclusive spaces where their voices influence decision-making,” the Commissioner stated.

Echoing this sentiment, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Alhaja Mariam Oloko, represented by Dr. Akinola Okereafor, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration for girl-child empowerment. She urged the girls to continually seek knowledge and become positive change agents.

The event also featured sensitization talks from other officials. Mrs. Olayinka Adejobi from the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA) educated participants on HIV/AIDS prevention. Meanwhile, Dr. Ayobami Suberu, the State Branch Controller of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), addressed the students on the new Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination, encouraging them to embrace digital literacy. He proudly noted that Ogun State recorded zero cases of malpractice in the 2024 and 2025 CBT WAEC examinations.

Highlights of the celebration included a debate competition, won by Abeokuta Girls Grammar School, Onikolobo, and the distribution of reusable sanitary pads and educational materials to all participants.