In a historic move, the Speaker of the Nigerian’s Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., honored the girl-child on October 10 by vacating his seat in plenary to allow a 16-year-old gender advocate, Ms. Isabel Anani, to preside over a special session commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child.

This marks the first occasion in Nigerian legislative history that a sitting Speaker has stepped aside for a non-member to lead proceedings.

The session commenced with an air of anticipation as Speaker Abbas announced the arrival of Ms. Anani, accompanied by female students from various secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The House joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child,” Speaker Abbas stated.

In his voice, he said, “This day highlights the challenges faced by girls while celebrating their resilience and potential in shaping a better future.”

Ms. Isabel Anani chairing a special plenary session commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child at the reps chambers, in Abuja, October 10, 2024
He further emphasized the importance of investing in the education and empowerment of young girls in Nigeria.“Today, we are privileged to welcome Isabel, a remarkable young leader and advocate for gender equality, who will shadow me throughout the day.”

Following a warm round of applause, Ms. Anani assumed her role as ‘Shadow Speaker’ and presided over the presentation of a motion by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, titled “Commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child.”

The motion was seconded by Hon. Akin Rotimi and was unanimously adopted by the House.
In a resolution, the House urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), among other stakeholders, to collaborate with schools and community organizations to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse and promote a drug-free lifestyle.

The House also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to devise strategies for reaching out to out-of-school girls across Nigeria.

The resolution also called for amendments to the Child’s Rights Act to enhance protection for sexually abused children and ensure legislative support for related ministries.

Furthermore, the House urged swift passage of bills aimed at protecting women and girls, including the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB).

Ms. Anani, a winner of the Girl Takeover Initiative and a newly admitted university student aspiring to study engineering, addressed the House, sharing her vision for the future.

“I envision a world where every girl, regardless of her background, has the opportunity to flourish and where education is seen as an essential tool for empowerment,” she stated.

“I want a future where girls aren’t discriminated against due to their bodies and where they can confidently pursue careers in STEM and politics,” she added.

“We need to ensure access to quality healthcare and education for every girl and provide safety from violence and harmful practices.”

The United Nations has designated October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, with the 2024 theme being ‘Girls’ Vision for the Future’. This theme highlights the urgent need for action and the importance of amplifying girls’ voices to shape a better tomorrow.

To this end, the House of Representatives took a significant step toward recognizing and empowering the girl-child, setting a precedent for future advocacy and legislative efforts in Nigeria.

Their participation was facilitated by Plan International Nigeria, which brought together girls from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.