I Vowed To Support Girl Child Education After My Sister Left School For Marriage – Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President, Chief  Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that those against girl-child education in Nigeria should have a rethink.

He spoke at an event marking this year’s World Diabetics Day, organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF).

At the event held at the Main Auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo stressed the need for contentment in every human endeavour, saying it could reduce the chances of getting diabetes.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Tuesday, Nov. 15, Obasanjo maintained that his personal experience on educating the female child had made him to include girl-child education among areas of focus for the Foundation.

He said: "When I started school in the village, I had a younger sister, after two years of starting school, my sister started school. I was first in my two years and as I went along, my sister was also first in the school she started. And suddenly, our father decided to pull her out of school, because a girl’s education ends in the kitchen; but I remained in school.

"That singular action made the difference between her development into adulthood and my development into adulthood. And, I thought that when I come back from UK I will send her to school. And by the time I came back from UK, my wife had given my sister to 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 female child is an idea and culture that must be killed. Woe betides anyone who attempts to relegate my eldest child, Iyabo. Iyabo will crush such person, be he or she."