… urges girls to pursue education
The Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, has urged schoolgirls to strongly prioritise their education over early marriage, declaring that every girl-child deserves “a book, not a wedding ring.”
- … urges girls to pursue education
She made the call on Friday while delivering a keynote address at an event organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Basic and Senior Secondary Education.
The event held in Otto-Ijanikin was to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Addressing students drawn from several public schools across Education District 5, Princess Sonayon-James emphasized that the potential of a girl-child is limitless when rooted in faith and purpose.
She also charged stakeholders to move past mere rhetoric and implement concrete structures to safeguard young girls.
“A girl-child deserves a book, not a wedding ring; a classroom, not a forced marriage; and the freedom to shape her own future,” she stated. “We must therefore move beyond words into deliberate actions through initiatives that keep the girl-child in school, provide scholarships and mentorship, promote digital and vocational skills, strengthen protection against gender-based violence, and empower families and communities to reject child marriage.”
She stressed that ending child marriage cannot be achieved in isolation, calling for a collaborative effort where parents, communities, and society actively champion these goals.
The deputy governorship hopeful expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for supporting girl-child education and opening pathways to leadership, referencing the Alternative High School for Girls initiative, among others.
Sonayon-James noted that the special school successfully eliminates gender barriers and provides a critical “second chance” for girls whose education was previously disrupted by life circumstances.
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“This is a reminder that there are no circumstances that can limit you as a girl-child in Lagos State,” she said. “Through this pathway, you have a second chance to dream, to imagine, to break glass ceilings, and to be what you have been called to be.”
She further challenged the traditional narrative that children are merely the “leaders of tomorrow,” asserting instead that the youth are “indeed the leadership of today.”
In her remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, called for immediate legislative enforcement, robust funding, and cross-sector collaboration to end child marriage across Nigeria.
Meranda declared child marriage a profound human rights violation and a national development crisis.
Citing a December 2025 UNICEF report, she highlighted that 33.4 percent of young women aged 20–24 in Nigeria were married before age 18, with rates soaring near 50 percent in the Northeast and Northwest regions. Globally, 12 million girls are married annually—averaging one girl every three seconds.
To combat this, the lawmaker outlined critical actions for governments, communities, and families. Pointing to the Lagos State Child Rights Law enacted in 2007, she warned that unenforced laws leave children exposed, asserting that cultural sensitivity must never excuse the violation of a child’s rights.
Mrs. Meranda emphasized a holistic approach to protection, stating that building a safer world for girls requires intentionally raising and educating boys. “Our boy-child will do better if they know better,” she noted.
She urged traditional leaders to challenge harmful norms, schools to identify at-risk girls, and the private sector to fund secondary education, mentorship, and opportunities in STEAM fields, public leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Concluding with a powerful charge to parents and policymakers, the Deputy Speaker urged stakeholders to shift from declarations to measurable action. “Do not prepare a girl for marriage at the expense of preparing her for life,” Meranda stated. “Let the law protect her. Let education empower her. Let opportunity elevate her.”
Also speaking at the event, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, asserted that investing in girls is a prerequisite for a collective, sustainable future.
He challenged the age-old stereotype that fields such as STEAM are exclusively for boys.
He declared that the state is actively rewriting that narrative by positioning Lagos girls to thrive in laboratories, coding desks, engineering sites, and corporate boardrooms.
“We are not just talking about that future — we are building it today by equipping our young women with the tools they need to lead,” the Commissioner stressed.
While commending the convener of the workshop, SSA to the State Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Opeyemi Eniola, for his vision and commitment to girl’s child development, Alli-Balogun charged the students to remain bold, curious, and innovative in tackling the world’s complex problems.
Speaking in the same vein, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, underscored the importance of education for both boys and girls.
According to him, education is the bedrock of development and a reliable path to becoming responsible citizens.
“So, if anybody tells you that education is a scam, know that such a person is a scammer too,” Ogunlende stated.
“On this note, ensure you dream big, remain determined, and stay focused on actualising your dreams. Government will continue to invest in you, while your teachers will keep supporting you,” he added.
A major highlight of the event was the panel discussion, followed by a question-and-answer session and a health talk.
Prominent female figures who faciltated the sessions included the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education, Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye; the Executive Secretary of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi; and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite (represented by Mrs Olajumoke Durosimi).
Also present were Ayisat Agbaje, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy; Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Education District 5, Mr Abiodun Hassan, as well as the convener of the programme, Mr Opeyemi Eniola.
The speakers admonished the girls to embrace self-discovery, understand their strengths and weaknesses, live purpose-driven lives, and seek divine guidance to crown their efforts.
They also shared their personal experiences, urging the students not to allow challenges and excuses—particularly those faced during their school days—to deter them from achieving greatness.