The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has emphasized the need for greater investment in the education and empowerment of the girl child. He believes that giving girls equal opportunities and encouraging their participation in public affairs will strengthen Nigeria's democratic development. Sulaiman made these remarks during the NILDS-European Union Inter-Secondary School Debate in Abuja, held to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.
The debate, themed "End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls' Rights," brought together 12 secondary schools from the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory. Each Area Council was represented by a public and a private secondary school. The competition aims to provide a platform for students to develop their research, critical thinking, public-speaking, advocacy, and civic engagement skills. The initiative is a partnership between NILDS and the European Union through the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.
Prof. Sulaiman, represented by Professor Amuda Kannike, SAN, stressed that women bring valuable perspectives to governance and called for stronger legislation to protect and advance the rights of women and girls. He emphasized that the progress and protection of the girl child should not depend solely on individual discretion but should be supported by appropriate laws, policies, and institutions. The NILDS Director-General also mentioned that recommendations from the debate would be forwarded to relevant committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.
European Union Policy Officer, Amira Haid, noted that the partnership with NILDS reflects the European Union's commitment to empowering girls and addressing gender inequalities in Nigeria. While progress has been recorded in girls' education, challenges remain in areas including healthcare, gender equality, and access to opportunities. Haid emphasized that initiatives like the debate provide an opportunity to amplify the voices of young people and encourage them to participate in conversations about issues that affect their future.
A Senior Research Fellow at NILDS, Dr. Doris Heron, commended the students for demonstrating strong knowledge and understanding of issues affecting the girl child. She noted that the students were able to draw on constitutional provisions, international treaties, and other legal instruments in making their arguments. Heron described their performance as an indication of growing awareness among young people of their rights and responsibilities.
The debate competition commenced on September 28, 2026, with students debating issues including girl-child empowerment, child marriage, female circumcision, and gender stereotypes. At the end of the first round, six of the 12 participating schools were eliminated, while six schools advanced to the semi-final stage. The next stage of the competition is scheduled for October 5, 2026, with the Grand Finale set for October 12, 2026.
The NILDS-EU Inter-Secondary School Debate is part of efforts to deepen public awareness of the rights of girls and encourage young Nigerians, particularly girls, to see themselves as future participants and contributors to public affairs. The programme will culminate in the Grand Finale on October 12, 2026, when the finalists will compete for the overall honours. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) is the capacity-building, research, and policy support institution of the National Assembly.
Key points
- Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman calls for stronger legislation to protect girls' rights
- The debate aims to empower girls and address gender inequalities in Nigeria
- The programme is a partnership between NILDS and the European Union through the EU-SDGN programme
