The Director-General of the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, Dr Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, has called on patents to pay attention to the girl-child.
This is as he cautioned young women against total financial dependence on others, warning that over-reliance on spouses has left many women vulnerable and unable to navigate life’s challenges.
He also said that investing in female child education is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
Ogunmuyiwa stressed that empowering girls through quality education remains critical to national development and economic growth.
He stated this on Sunday in Lagos during an event organised by the First Class Muslim Foundation Board, where 20 first-class female students from universities across the South-West received scholarships.
The education administrator challenged the long-held societal belief that a woman’s role is limited to the kitchen, describing such perceptions as harmful to national progress.
“It is the women, or the ladies, or girls that will become mothers. And mothers are the ones who are going to train the children who are going to be the future of this country.
“So, if we take care of the womenfolk, then it means we are ensuring that the children for the future are going to be well-trained,” Ogunmuyiwa said.
He noted that the increasing number of female students graduating with first-class honours reflected a growing determination among young women to attain financial independence and personal growth.
According to him, many women in previous generations suffered because they depended entirely on others for survival, a situation many young women are now determined to avoid.
“A lot of females get their fingers burnt because they relied so much on their husbands, they relied so much on other people, and they are not independent enough to be able to make a living.
“And truth be told, everybody is here as an individual, whether male or female, and you should make something out of your life. So, everybody should be given the opportunity to make the best out of living,” he added.
Ogunmuyiwa, who also chairs the foundation’s Board of Incorporated Trustees, urged parents to abandon biases that limit the educational aspirations of girls.
“Every parent should pay attention to the girl-child. The truth is that no nation can grow without the girl-child being trained properly. Everybody should be given the opportunity to prove what they can do,” he said.
He explained that the scholarship initiative was introduced to help bridge the educational gender gap and challenge cultural stereotypes against female education.
The beneficiaries were drawn from institutions including the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, University of Lagos, and Lagos State University.
Speakers at the event included Dr Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle, Dr Sikirat Akinremi, Dr Azeezat Muse-Sadiq, and Dr Haleemah Olalere.
Some of the beneficiaries described the scholarship and mentorship programme as encouraging and timely.
One of the beneficiaries, Adefunke Adedeji from the University of Ibadan, said, “Religion should not be a barrier to academic excellence. It should be a motivating factor and an encouragement to be outstanding. The scholarship will help me a lot to achieve greater heights.”
Also speaking, a medical student of OAU, Ganeeyat Adeyemi, urged parents to prioritise education for their children.
“Education is a rightful thing to give your kid. Don’t be discouraged by the negative things you hear out there,” she said.
Female education and gender inclusion have continued to gain attention in Nigeria amid concerns over school dropout rates, early marriage, and unequal access to educational opportunities for girls in some parts of the country.
Stakeholders have repeatedly stressed that improving access to quality education for girls is essential to reducing poverty, improving healthcare outcomes and promoting sustainable national development.
