Ex president olusegun Obasanjo berates those against girl-child education

The former president of Nigeria argued that it is incorrect to believe that the only place for a female child is in the kitchen and denounced those who limit opportunities for girls to pursue higher education.

According to him, such idea of giving more importance to male child education over the female child is a wrong culture that should not be encouraged.

Woe befalls those who oppose the education of girls,remarked Obasanjo while speaking at an event commemorating this year’s world diabetes day in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

He went on to say that his daughter Iyabo°agrees that no child should be denied an,education because of her gender and thatanyone who does this and is discovered by his daughter will face the consequences.

Obasanjo described a personal incident inwhich his father forcibly removed hisyounger sister from school and theconsequences for her future.

The former president of Nigeria emphasize that it is because of such experiences that his foundation, the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation place a major emphasis on girl-child education.

Obasanjo said, “When I started school in the village, I had a junior sister, who was enrolled in school two years after I had joined the school… and suddenly, our father decided that – because a girl-child education ends in the kitchen, pulled her out of school – I remained in school.

“And that singular action made the difference between her development into adulthood and my development into adulthood. I had a plan that whenever I return from the UK, I will re-enrol her back to school. But by the time I came back from the UK, my wife had given my sister out in marriage and that ended my sister’s education.

“Then, I vowed that whatever I can do for girl-child education, I will always do. And this unfortunate idea of girl-child education ending in the kitchen is unimportant. The culture of giving preference to a male child over a female child is an idea and culture that must be killed.

“Woe betide anyone who attempts to relegate my eldest child, Iyabo. Iyabo will crush such a person, be he or she.”