I now expect President Tinubu to build on the success of the Super Falcons by sending a Nigerian Girl Child Empowerment Bill 2025 to the National Assembly

Ayo Akinfe

[1] We will set ourselves a target of ensuring that by 2030, every 16/17 year old girl child is either in full time education or learning a vocational trade at a technical college

[2] Unesco advised Nigeria to spend 26% of her national budget on education. As from January 2026, we will ensure we meet that target unfailingly annually

[3] Within the E9 Group of Developing Nations, everyone except Nigeria spends over 20% of their budget on education? The E9 is made up Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan. The same goes for the D8 group of countries made up of Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkey. As from 2026, no state government in Nigeria will be allowed to spend less than 20% of its budget on education

[4] in 2017, Peter Okebukola, the former secretary of the Nigerian Universities Commission and the the president of Global University Network for Innovation, said: “ I believe we should strive for a minimum of 30% for the next 20 years to clear the mess in the sector.” Come 2027, he will be appointed education minister with a mandate to realise this vision

[5] As from January 1 2026, it will be considered statutory rape to have carnal knowledge of a girl under 16 years of age. It will carry a 10 year prison sentence

[6] All secondary schools and tertiary institutions will be given budgets to enable them provide female pupils with sanitary towels

[7] Every one of our 774 local government areas must have at least five government girls secondary schools

[8] State scholarships will be given to any girl who excels in sporting activities

[9] Marrying any girl below the age of 18 will attract a mandatory 15 year jail term

[10] A Nigerian Girl Child Endowment Fund will be created for the public and private sector to pay money into. These funds will be used to bankroll female sporting activities, to sponsor special talents and to support rewarding initiatives

Ayoakinfe@gmail.com