By Nefishetu Yakubu
Government Day Secondary School, Dutse, Abuja, Monday emerged overall winner of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS-European Union (EU) inter-secondary school debate.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the debate, held at NILDS Headquarters, Abuja was organised to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.
Four schools competed in the grand finale on the topic entitled, Empowering the girl child is more effective than punishing offenders in ending child marriage.
They included Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji , Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, Baptist High School, Kubwa, and Ambassador Global Academy, Kwali.
Government Day Secondary School, Dutse, which argued for punishing offenders, won with 89 per cent and received N1 million, while Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, came second with 76 per cent and received N500,000.
Ambassador Global Academy, Kwali, came third and received N250,000, while Baptist High School, Kubwa, came fourth and received N100,000.
Speaking shortly after the debate, the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman called on governments at all levels to invest more in public schools.
Sulaiman commended the students for demonstrating intelligence, confidence and strong argumentative skills, adding that the competition had revealed their intellectual abilities and potential.
“The impressive performances of these students shows that public schools are capable of producing outstanding students despite challenges associated with inadequate investment in education.
“The children of the less privileged are gifted, and what we tend to assume is not always the reality,” he said.
He said public school students had also performed impressively in NILDS quiz competitions organised over the past 11 years.
The director-general expressed optimism about the future of public education, urging authorities to sustain investments that would enable students to develop their intellectual abilities.
He also highlighted the importance of empowering girls through education, saying that the future depended significantly on providing women and girls with opportunities to realise their potential.
Sulaiman called on government institutions, private organisations, development partners and the media to support initiatives that promoted girls’ education and protected their rights.
He urged the media to publicise the achievements of female students and support advocacy efforts aimed at advancing gender equality and eliminating harmful practices.
The NILDS director-general said the institute had supported legislative and policy initiatives that addressed female genital mutilation, gender-based violence and early marriage.
He explained that NILDS was collaborating with UN Women, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and development partners to advance the protection of girls’ rights.
According to him, the institute’s programmes are also helping to create awareness about policies and legislative measures designed to improve the welfare of girls.
On his part, the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Gautier Mignot said the competition promoted gender equality, confidence and leadership skills among young girls.
Mignot noted that about 129 million girls worldwide remained out of school, adding that early and forced marriage affected approximately 12 million girls annually.
He said that following the United Nations’ assessment, ending child marriage could take 300 years at current rates, urging targeted investments to address structural inequalities.
Mignot said the EU’s Gender Action Plan III promoted equality through international partnerships, with at least 85 per cent of EU-funded projects expected to incorporate gender considerations.
He said the EU supported initiatives addressing gender-based violence, adolescent reproductive health and girls’ education, stressing that gender equality was essential for societal development.
The envoy described the debate as an opportunity to strengthen advocacy, confidence and leadership among young people, particularly girls seeking equal opportunities in society.
He disclosed that the winning team would visit the EU Delegation to learn about its activities.
Meanwhile, Grace Onuoha, the lead speaker of Government Day Secondary School, Dutse, which won the debate, expressed delight over the school’s performance.
She pledged to sensitise her classmates and friends about the dangers of child marriage and encourage girls to speak out against abuses.
(NAN)
NY/KOO
=========
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
Comments