Obama meets Malala at White House, salutes her efforts

WASHINGTON; US President Barack Obama met Friday with Malala Yousafzai at the White House on Friday, and saluted her efforts for girls' education.

The White House said in a statement that Malala met with the president and first lady in the Oval Office where the president signed a proclamation to mark Friday as the International Day of the Girl. The proclamation says in part that "on every continent, there are girls who will go on to change the world in ways we can only imagine, if only we allow them the freedom to dream."

The statement said that the President and First Lady Michelle Obama "welcomed" Malala and thanked her for her "inspiring and passionate work on behalf of girls education in Pakistan".

"The United States joins with the Pakistani people and so many around the world to celebrate Malala's courage and her determination to promote the right of all girls to attend school and realize their dreams," it said. As the First Lady has said, "Investing in girls' education is the very best thing we can do, not just for our daughters and granddaughters, but for their families, their communities, and their countries."

The President said in his proclamation to mark Friday as the International Day of the Girl, "Across the globe there are girls who will one day lead nations, if only we afford them the chance to choose their own destinies. And on every continent, there are girls who will go on to change the world in ways we can only imagine, if only we allow them the freedom to dream."

"We salute Malala's efforts to help make these dreams come true," the statement added.

On Friday she spoke at the World Bank and was scheduled to speak at a book event at the Sidwell Friends School, which Obama's daughters attend.