The President-General and Founder of the United Nations Association of Africa (UNAA), Ambassador Sylvester Okafor, has called for greater commitment to girls’ education in Nigeria, warning that millions of young girls remain out of school due to persistent socio-economic challenges.
In a statement, Ambassador Okafor expressed concern over the growing number of out-of-school children, noting that girls account for a significant proportion.
“Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world — and millions of them are girls,” he said.
According to him, factors such as poverty, insecurity, early marriage, and gender bias continue to deny many girls access to education, despite existing legal protections.
“The Child Rights Act guarantees every Nigerian child the right to education and protection,” he stated.
Ambassador Okafor emphasised that educating girls should not be misconstrued as westernisation, but rather recognised as a critical step toward societal advancement.
“Educating girls is not westernization, because educating girls is civilization,” he said.
He noted that educating girls yields long-term benefits, as they grow into women who contribute meaningfully to their families, communities, and the broader economy.
“When you educate a girl, you reduce child mortality.
When you educate a girl, you increase national prosperity,” he added.
The UNAA President-General urged stakeholders to treat girls’ education as a necessity, not an option.
“Let us stop seeing education for girls as optional. It is essential, and should be made so for our girls,” he said.
He also called for equal access to educational opportunities, including admissions and scholarships, while stressing the need to eliminate all forms of harassment within academic institutions.
“No institution should ignore complaints. Merit must be the standard — not gender,” he stated.
Ambassador Okafor further highlighted the broader role of women in national development, dismissing stereotypes that limit their participation in key sectors.
“A woman in engineering is not unusual. A woman in politics is not threatening. A woman in science is not competing with men. She is contributing to the much needed overall development of Nigeria. And Nigeria really, really needs her intelligence,” he said.
He also condemned domestic violence and harmful cultural practices, calling for respect, partnership, and mutual understanding in family life.
“No woman should be beaten in the name of discipline. No girl should be married out early in the name of culture. No widow should be humiliated in the name of tradition,” he said.
Ambassador Okafor concluded by urging Nigerians to recognise the value of women in nation-building.
“If we agree that women give life, then we must also agree that they deserve protection,” he added.