NILDS DG calls for greater investment in girl child education, empowerment

The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS) Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has called for greater investment in the education and empowerment of the girl child.

The NILDS boss believe giving girls equal opportunities and encouraging their participation in public affairs will strengthen Nigeria’s democratic development.

Sulaiman, represented by the Acting Director, Department of Legislative Support Services, Professor Amuda Kannike, SAN, spoke in Abuja during the NILDS-European Union Inter-Secondary School Debate organised to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.

The debate is being held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

The NILDS Director-General said women bring valuable perspectives to governance and called for stronger legislation to protect and advance the rights of women and girls.

He stressed 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.

Prof. Sulaiman also said recommendations emerging from the debate would be forwarded to relevant committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to contribute to legislative discussions on issues affecting women and girls.

Also speaking, the European Union Policy Officer, Amira Haid, said the partnership with NILDS reflects the European Union’s commitment to empowering girls and addressing gender inequalities in Nigeria.

Haid noted that while progress has been recorded in girls’ education, challenges remain in areas including healthcare, gender equality and access to opportunities.
She said initiatives such as 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, describing their performance as an indication of growing awareness among young people of their rights and responsibilities.

The NILDS–EU debate brought together 12 secondary schools from the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, with each Area Council represented by a public and a private secondary school.

The first stage of the competition commenced on September 28, 2026, with the 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 six successful schools will return for the next stage of the competition on October 5, 2026, while the Grand Finale is scheduled for October 12, 2026.

Beyond the competitive aspect, the debate is designed to provide the students with a platform to develop their research, critical thinking, public-speaking, advocacy and civic engagement skills, while encouraging informed discussion on the rights, education, protection and development of the girl child.

The initiative is being implemented by NILDS in partnership with the European Union through the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.

The debate is also being broadcast on Democracy Radio 104.9 FM, Abuja, with the proceedings amplified through digital platforms, including YouTube and TikTok, allowing a wider audience to follow the discussions and hear directly from the young participants.

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 not only as beneficiaries of democratic governance but also 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. The Institute provides training, research and technical support aimed at strengthening legislative effectiveness and democratic governance in Nigeria.