As Nigeria marks the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, Dr Idongesit Ashameri, CEO of VirValCher Nigeria Limited, has urged parents to invest equally in the education of their sons and daughters. Ashameri argues that unequal investment in education entrenches gender discrimination, limiting girls' ability to contribute fully to society and achieve economic independence. The theme of this year's celebration is "End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls' Rights."
Ashameri made the call during an interview with ADBN TV, noting that investing in girls begins at home, where parents make decisions about school fees, quality of education, and opportunities available to them. She argues that parents who send their sons to expensive schools while placing their daughters in cheaper alternatives are creating an unequal foundation for their children's future. Ashameri emphasizes that girls deserve the same educational opportunities as boys.
According to Ashameri, equal investment in girls goes beyond enrolling them in school to ensuring access to quality education, learning resources, and opportunities to develop their abilities and pursue their ambitions. She links inadequate investment in girls' education to the persistence of child marriage, arguing that families must take responsibility for practices that deprive girls of their childhood and limit their future prospects.
Ashameri calls for stricter enforcement of the Child Rights Act and penalties for parents and persons who facilitate child marriage. She stresses that marriage and family responsibilities should not be imposed on children. Ashameri commends the Akwa Ibom State government's free and compulsory education policy, describing it as an important opportunity for girls to access education.
However, Ashameri urges the Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission to intensify public enlightenment on the importance of educating girls. She also calls on families employing school-age girls as domestic workers to ensure that their responsibilities do not deprive them of basic education. Ashameri emphasizes that protecting girls requires a comprehensive approach that combines equal educational investment, protection from child marriage, and safeguards against discriminatory inheritance practices.
Ashameri expresses concern that widows with all-girl children can lose their homes and property to their late husbands' relatives, leaving them vulnerable to economic hardship. She urges parents to make provision for all their children in family property arrangements, insisting that daughters should not be excluded simply because they are expected to marry and move away from their parental homes.
Ashameri emphasizes that a society that underinvests in girls risks wasting their talents and contributions to national development. She urges parents, communities, and government institutions to translate commitments to girls' rights into practical action. Ashameri has over 20 years of expertise in journalism, public relations, and marketing communication, and has published journal articles on media violence, political advertising, and media language.
Key points
- Dr Idongesit Ashameri calls for equal education investment and inheritance rights for girls and boys.
- Ashameri links inadequate investment in girls' education to the persistence of child marriage.
- Ashameri urges stricter enforcement of the Child Rights Act and penalties for parents and persons who facilitate child marriage.
