NIGERIA – Girl-child education rights activist, Malala Yousafzai, has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the education sector in the country.
The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner, made this known when she visited the Nigerian Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, behind closed doors on Monday at the Presidential Villa.
The 20-year-old Malala, was accompanied by her father, Yousafzai and other members of the Malala Foundation during the visit.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Malala called for the implementation of the Child’s Rights Act in all the three tiers of government.
She said, “It was a very good meeting. I had very good response. I highlighted a few issues. The first was to ask the government to declare a state of emergency for education because the education of the Nigerian girls and boys is really important. The Federal government, State government and local government should all be united for this.
“Secondly, the spending should be made public and thirdly, the Child Rights Act should be implemented in all states. I was really happy to hear positive response from the acting President that they are happy with the suggestion of implementing declaration of emergency in education and that they are happy to work more on education and that they are united.
“I am happy to hear positive responses from the Ministers as well that they are ensuring that education is prioritized in every girl and in every boy and education in Nigeria is given priority.”
It is worth noting that the young female activist survived gunshots on her head by the Taliban for campaigning for girl-child education in Pakistan.
She had visited Nigeria in July, 2014 where she campaigned for the release of Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents.
