The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, yesterday handed over the affairs of the state to a 14-year-old schoolgirl, Atika Yan’kaba, for one-hour.
This was in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, organised by SUBEB and UNICEF at the government House in Kano.
After the takeover, the “ symbolic” governor commenced council meeting, as other schoolgirls acted as the governor’s cabinet members, where girl-child was given priority.
The dramatic executive council meeting held while Ganduje and his cabinet watched.
After the symbolic meeting, Ya’nkaba handed over the power back to Ganduje.
In his speech, Ganduje told the “former governor’ that he was impressed.
“I’m highly impressed by how you ran your government. I watched your executive council meeting on television and observed how you paid attention to girl-child education".
“We will also take the issue of girl-child development more serious,” Ganduje said.
Similarly, Dorcas Joshua also on Monday, performed the role of the Minister of State for Education for one-day.
She called for increased investment in education at an event to mark the International Girl-Child Day in Abuja.
Joshua said, “An analysis of data from Nigeria’s annual school census of 2019/2020 indicates that the average transition rates from lower basic education to upper basic stands at 58 per cent for the northern states of Kano. Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara".
“The national average for girls’ transition from primary to junior secondary stands at 64 per cent. Even the national average remains unacceptable to me".
“As data show, girls’ enrolment and transition continue to be jeopardised. And even where enrolled, girls are less likely than boys to complete secondary education due to so many reasons".
“Only one of six girls graduates from primary school are able to transit to secondary schools. I ask them, where are the rest of the girls? We must find them.”
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, said no economy could attain its full potentials without the contribution of women, youths, girls and boys alike.
PUNCH
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