My name is Dr. DeWayne Frazier and I am proud to have served the past five months as the President of our American University of Nigeria. It has been my absolute pleasure to serve and it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I am constantly thankful to our Dear Founder and Board for this opportunity and I am most thankful for the support of our campus as attempt to make AUN grow and prosper. Please afford me the opportunity to welcome each of you on this special day. Today, we are here to open one of our new programs, the title is the Girls Education and Enhancement Program, affectionately called GEEP. This is a seminal program is a collaborative effort of the American University of Nigeria, Atiku Institute for Development, and the Adamawa State Government, Ministry of Education and Human Capital development. On behalf of AUN, I would like to say thank you to each of the organizations as together, we are stronger and a stronger Adamawa state benefits all our citizens.
After I am finished, our Director of the Atiku Institute of Development, a wonderful man and dear friend, Dr. Audu Liman will share much more details about how the program will operate. I am particularly interested in this program also because it allows AUN students to be involved in our programs to assist you community and build up the people. When AUN students are involved, it changes them and empowers them to start their own programs after they graduate. Everyone wants to have AUN graduates in their cities and towns as they are truly global citizens who care about their communities and improving life for all people.
In 2022 the World Bank reported that 49.4% of the Nigerian population are females. So, in respect, half of the entire country is female making endeavors to assist females of national importance. Besides the morale reasons, girls’ education is a must in terms of population growth. Girls' education in Nigeria is of utmost importance for numerous reasons and I am pleased that the American University of Nigeria is at the forefront helping lead the way. Let me share more of why we have created such a program aimed at young girls and why I personally have invested significantly to make sure the program launches.
Firstly, educating girls empowers them to become economically independent individuals. By acquiring knowledge and skills, they can contribute to the growth and development of their communities and the nation at large. Furthermore, girls' education plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty. Studies have shown that educated women are more likely to marry later, have fewer children, and provide better healthcare and education for their own children. This creates a positive ripple effect that uplifts families and communities, leading to sustainable development.
Girls' education also promotes gender equality. When girls have access to education, they are more likely to challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes. This can lead to greater gender parity in various aspects of society, including politics, economics, and social norms. Moreover, education empowers girls by enhancing their decision-making abilities and critical thinking skills.
With education, girls can make informed choices about their health, family planning, and career paths. This enables them to fully participate in shaping their own lives and the society they live in.
Educating girls is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. It directly contributes to goals such as eradicating poverty, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and ensuring quality education. In conclusion, the importance of girls' education in Nigeria cannot be overstated. It has the potential to transform individuals, families, communities, and the nation as a whole. By investing in girls' education, we can create a brighter and more inclusive future for everyone.
When countries invest in their girls, they turn into fabulous leaders like we have witnessed around the world and we in Nigeria can be next. Here is just a few of those leaders.
- Indira Gandhi: As the first and, to date, the only female Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi made significant contributions to Indian politics and played a key role in shaping the country's history.
- Margaret Thatcher: Known as the "Iron Lady," Margaret Thatcher served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and was a prominent figure in global politics.
- Angela Merkel: Serving as the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, Angela Merkel is one of the world's most influential leaders, known for her steady leadership and contributions
- Golda Meir: She was the first and at this point only, female prime minister of Israel.
- Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister of Pakistan and served two consecutive terms.
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the first elected female head of state who in 2006 became the President of Liberia.
Keep all of this in mind, AUN has a program aimed at young boys in our community call the Feed and Read and it is one of the best and most special programs we implement each year. Matter of fact, I had the opportunity to participate in one of the graduating classes just last Friday. But when I discovered we had not had funding to launch a girl’s program, I stepped back and thought of my two smart and beautiful little girls, Kiera and Sandrine, both 16 and I knew what I had to due to honor them and the many women that invested in my life and the amazing women on our AUN campus, students, faculty and staff. This is why I donated the money to initial launch the program, so we can honor these people and demonstrate the love that God wants us to do.
Once again, thank you for the opportunity to be involved in this program and to be in this school today with all of these amazing people, especially the young ladies. God has a plan for each of you, and through this program, we are going to provide you with more opportunities and support so you are able to take your rightful seat as a future leader of our community, state and country. I even have a special gift I purchased for each of you to start in this outstanding program. Many of you know, I absolutely love children, and try to support them any time I can because I myself was an orphan, just like our dear Founder, and both of us what to invest in the lives of children through education. As the dear Founder, Atiku Abubakar once said, “Education truly can change a person's story, it gave me everything. Whatever happens, get an education.”. Young ladies, it is time to write your story and we are here to help along that journey. May God Bless this school, bless AUN and our state of Adamawa and the great country of Nigeria. Thank you.