RismadarVoice Reporters, May 18, 2026
The Director-General of the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, Dr Sulaimon Ogunmuyiwa, has called for greater investment in female education, stressing that empowering girls through quality learning is essential to Nigeria’s future development.
Ogunmuyiwa also cautioned young women against complete financial dependence on others, warning that over-reliance on spouses and relatives has left many women vulnerable and unable to cope with life’s challenges.
He made the remarks during a scholarship and mentorship event organised by the First Class Muslim Foundation in Lagos, where 20 first-class female students from universities across the South-West received scholarships.
According to him, investing in the education of girls is a strategic step toward national growth, as educated women play a critical role in shaping future generations.
“It is the women or girls who will become mothers, and mothers are the ones who will train the children who are going to be the future of this country,” Ogunmuyiwa said.
He challenged long-standing societal beliefs that limit women’s roles to domestic responsibilities, describing such perceptions as harmful to national progress and gender development.
The education administrator noted that the increasing number of female graduates earning first-class honours reflected a growing determination among young women to achieve financial independence and personal advancement.
According to him, many women in previous generations suffered hardship because they depended entirely on others for survival, a pattern many young women are now seeking to change through education and self-development.
Ogunmuyiwa, who also chairs the Board of Incorporated Trustees of the foundation, urged parents to abandon biases that restrict the educational aspirations of girls.
He explained that the scholarship initiative was designed to bridge the educational gender gap and challenge cultural stereotypes surrounding female education.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship programme were drawn from institutions including the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, University of Lagos and Lagos State University.
Several speakers at the event, including Dr Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle, Dr Sikirat Akinremi, Dr Azeezat Muse-Sadiq and Dr Haleemah Olalere, emphasised the importance of mentorship and educational opportunities for young women.
Some beneficiaries described the scholarship programme as timely and encouraging.
One of the recipients, Adefunke Adedeji of the University of Ibadan, said religion should serve as a motivation for academic excellence rather than a barrier.
Another beneficiary, medical student Ganeeyat Adeyemi of Obafemi Awolowo University, urged parents to prioritise education for their children despite prevailing social and economic challenges.
Concerns over female school dropout rates, early marriage and unequal access to education have continued to fuel calls for stronger investment in girls’ education across Nigeria.
Education stakeholders maintain that expanding access to quality education for girls remains critical to reducing poverty, improving healthcare outcomes and promoting sustainable national development.
