12-year-old girl ‘replaces’ Tallen as Minister of Women Affairs

A 12-year-old girl on Monday took over from Paulin Tallen as the Minister of Women Affairs in Nigeria. The young – Minister of Women Affairs, Nana Firdausi Bashir, resuming office in Abuja, promised every child in Nigeria that she “will make them all feel good”, noting that the needs of the Nigerian child, including the quest for gender equality will be her priority.

However, the 12-year-old Nana, a Primary Six pupil of Shehu Kangiwa Primary School, Kebbi, Kebbi State, was ceremoniously made a one day Child Minister of Women Affairs on Monday in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl-Child. Receiving her peers who paid her a courtesy visit in her office, Nana noted that the issue of out of school girls has been difficult to handle in Nigeria, she assured that necessary consultations will be made to get the girl-child back to the classroom.

The Child Minister observed the wide gender gap in the digital world in Nigeria, which she said favours the boys. She, therefore, stated that the Girls 4 Girls Platform was established to address the disparity.

Nana’s 7-point agenda were indicated to include ending girl child trafficking and molestation, reducing number of out of school girl children and ensuring that they complete basic education, etc.

Nana Firdausi Bashir, a Nigerian citizen from Kebbi State, is the second child in a family of five children.

The theme of the 2021 International Day of the Girl-Child is “Digital Generation, Our generation”. It is a day marked by the United Nations to celebrate the girl child and deliberating on issues affecting their development.