Get education first before going for ‘cute’ boys, US First Lady tells girls

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, has advised girls to make their education a priority over romantic relationships with boys.

Obama gave the charge on Tuesday while speaking to a group of girls at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, in New York City, for the “Let Girls Learn” event

She told the young ladies that they must put books before boys because education would give them a better chance in life.

"There is no boy at this age that is cute enough or interesting enough to stop you from getting your education," Obama said.

“If I had worried about who liked me or who thought I was cute when I was your age, I wouldn’t be married to the President of the United States today."

The first Lady attributed her life's successes to education.

"And I think about where I would be in my life if I didn’t work hard in school and have the opportunity to go to college and then on to law school, I wouldn’t be here.

"So I think it’s imperative and it is a part of my passion and my mission to make sure that every girl on the planet has the same opportunity that I’ve had, that my daughters have."

READ: Nigeria has 10.5 million out-of-school children, says UNICEF

She said the 'Let Girls Learn' project, an initiative to empower girls and women through education is a "personal" project.

"When I think about those 62 million girls that aren’t in school, I think about myself.

"I think about my daughters; because quite frankly, all these girls, these are our girls."

"I want you to be that hungry to get your education because it is going to be the key to your future.”

She told them to endure the rigours of education for a better chance in the future.

“You’ll have opportunity, and you’ll have control of your life to make choices.

And you won’t have to listen to your parents, because you’ll have a job and you’ll pay your own bills.

"Now you be patient. Because if you don’t do it now, then you’ll be living this cramped-up life for the rest of your life.”

According to a report by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), "the number of children and adolescents who are out of school is on the rise, and grew to 124 million in 2013."

The report further stated that girls are the most disadvantaged.

Recently, the Country Director of UNICEF, Jean Gough, said Nigeria has about 10.5 million out-of-school children.