By Ibukun Emiola
Ibadan- Dr Opemipo Kolade, a leader at August Girls Assembly, Worth-in-Womanhood Ministry has called on the government to strengthen the country’s education system to ensure every Nigerian child receives sound education from the foundation.
Kolade made the call in Ibadan on Saturday at the closing of the 23rd edition of the August Girls Assembly, organised by the Worth-in-Womanhood Ministry of Vine Branch Ministries.
She said quality education should be treated as a right for every child, rather than a privilege, stressing that the future of Nigeria depended on the quality of education provided to children today.
According to her, the annual assembly, which targets girls aged eight to 19, has continued to expose participants to issues around identity, self-worth and personal development.
She said the 2026 edition, themed “Identity Unfiltered: The Real Me in Christ,” was aimed at helping girls understand their identity and worth beyond societal expectations.
“Once you know who you are, other things usually would line up.
“We want the girls to know what God’s Word says about them and not define themselves by what people or friends think about them,” the expert said.
Kolade, a family physician, said the programme attracted more than 1,000 girls through its physical and virtual platforms, with participants joining from Nigeria, Ghana, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
She urged the government to place greater emphasis on foundational education, noting that inadequate education could leave young people without the basic skills needed to participate effectively in society.
“We need to get education right from the foundation, from the very beginning.
“Whatever it is that the government has to put in place to ensure that every child gets a sound education, you are giving that child a whole lot when you give a child education,” she said.
Kolade expressed concern that some children could complete secondary education without being able to communicate effectively or write properly, describing the situation as detrimental to the country’s long-term development.
She said investment in education was essential to preparing children for leadership and building a stronger future for Nigeria.
“These children we see now, they are the ones that will lead in future. They are indeed the future of our nation.
“So, we must get it right where education is concerned,” she said.
