Honorable Taiwo Oluga, a member of the National Assembly Commission, has called for improved enforcement of free and compulsory education for the girl-child.
Hon Oluga also urged state governments to implement free and compulsory adult education for women.
In her International Women’s Day message, Hon. Oluga emphasized that education is essential to achieving Rights, Equality and Empowerment for the female gender.
She observed that while considerable progress has been made in educating girls in urban areas, much more needs to be done for their counterparts in underserved communities across Nigeria.
“Much of the success recorded in the campaign for compulsory girl child education is limited to areas within the coverage of the media, which is just a percentage of the real challenge. Government must put functional measures in place to ensure that our young girls in the hinterland and underserved communities go to school, particularly they must have basic education,” she stated.
Hon. Oluga, who served in the 9th Assembly of the House Representatives, pointed out that a large number of women in the informal sector could benefit from adult education schemes, which would enhance their knowledge and capacity to stand for their rights and make informed decisions.
The APC Chieftain charged women’s groups to organize themselves as independent monitors to ensure that women empowerment initiatives in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda reach the grassroots, noting that this would facilitate meaningful change and promote gender equality.
She also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her initiatives aimed at empowering women, stating that they complement the government’s agenda for women empowerment.
Hon. Oluga encouraged young Nigerian women to join political parties as major stakeholders and indicate interest in leadership positions, rather than serving merely as “background entertainers” at party events.
“Most women in politics today are just there as members, but are scared of the struggles for power with men, for many obvious reasons. However, for such trend to change, women must prove that they possess capacities and can deliver, not just as entertainers, but in delivering parties manifestos and roadmap,” she said.
She emphasized that support from men is crucial in giving women a voice and enabling them to play critical roles in society, appealing to men, especially party leaders, to encourage women’s participation.