FG committed to girl-child education, women empowerment, Shettima tells UN delegation

Vice President Kashim Shettima says the federal government is fully committed to promoting girl-child education and gender empowerment.

The vice president spoke on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the UN at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

The delegation was led by Amina Mohammed, UN deputy secretary-general and chair of the UN sustainable development group.

Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel laureate and UN messenger of peace, was also a part of the delegation.

Shettima said President Bola Tinubu is passionate about issues involving the girl child, adding that the federal government would promote gender-friendly education in its policies and programmes.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully and unequivocally committed to the girl-child education and gender empowerment initiatives,” he said.

“The SDGs goals four and five will be vigorously pursued by the present administration.

“President Tinubu is a passionate and committed advocate of girl-child education. He believes in the empowerment of our women.

“He believes that the prosperity, the respect of every society is directly proportional to the way they treat their women folk.”

The vice president commended the UNDSG for their efforts in promoting girl-child education, adding that Mohammed stands as a symbol of hope for the African woman for her resilience, commitment and disposition and most importantly, her integrity.

“She is an oasis of hope in an unending ocean of poverty and depravity, while Malala is an icon of hope and change in a despairing world,” he said.

In separate remarks, Mohammed and Malala commended the Nigerian government for its efforts in observing progress in the areas of gender equity and education of girls across the country.