As the world prepares to mark World Girl Child Education Day on October 11, Nigeria continues to face one of its most daunting challenges: educating its children, especially girls. Despite global efforts to prioritize education as a tool for development, the latest data from the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2023 paints a grim picture for Nigeria. The country has the highest number of out-of-school children globally, a crisis that is disproportionately impacting the northern region and its young girls.
GIRL CHILD EDUCATION IN NIGERIA:
Nigeria: Home to 20% of the World’s Out-of-School Children
Nigeria’s out-of-school population is staggering. Approximately 10.5 million children aged 5-14 years are not attending school. This figure represents 20% of the global out-of-school population**, meaning that one in five out-of-school children in the world lives in Nigeria. The problem is especially severe in Northern Nigeria, where ongoing insurgency, poverty, and cultural barriers have created a perfect storm, denying millions of children access to education.
According to the Global Education Monitoring Report 2023, approximately 50% of Nigeria's out-of-school children live in the northern region. The situation in these states—particularly Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa—has worsened due to the violent activities of Boko Haram, an extremist group that has specifically targeted education, especially for girls. Boko Haram, whose name translates to "Western education is forbidden," has been waging a war against formal education since 2009. In the wake of their attacks, schools have been destroyed, teachers killed, and thousands of children left with no place to learn.
Girls at the Center of the Crisis
The impact of this crisis is acutely felt by Nigerian girls, who face both societal and security-related obstacles to receiving an education. The UNICEF estimates that 7.6 million girls are out of school in Nigeria, with a large percentage concentrated in the northern state. This gender gap is not merely a consequence of the insurgency; cultural and economic barriers also play a critical role. In many northern communities, girls are often seen as less deserving of education compared to boys, with early marriage and domestic responsibilities frequently taking precedence over schooling.
Moreover, poverty exacerbates the gender disparity. Families with limited financial resources are often forced to make difficult decisions, and in most cases, boys are allowed to attend school while girls remain at home. This lack of access to education for girls has far-reaching implications, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. A girl denied education is more likely to experience early marriage, have more children at a younger age, and face greater health risks—all factors that further entrench poverty and inequality in society.
Impact of Conflict: The Insurgency and Displacement
The crisis in Northern Nigeria is closely tied to the long-running Boko Haram insurgency. Since 2009, the insurgency has displaced millions of people, disrupted livelihoods, and devastated the education sector. **Schools have been directly targeted**, with buildings bombed, teachers abducted or killed, and students forced to flee for safety. These attacks have left an indelible mark on the region’s education system.
In states like Borno, the epicenter of Boko Haram’s insurgency, thousands of children have been unable to attend school due to the constant threat of violence. Displaced families, living in temporary camps, face further challenges in accessing education for their children. Many schools have been turned into shelters for displaced persons, further limiting the availability of educational facilities. **Insurgency and displacement**, therefore, have created an environment where going to school is either impossible or too dangerous for millions of children.
The Global Call to Action
As World Girl Child Education Day approaches, the spotlight is once again on Nigeria and its out-of-school crisis. The UN and UNESCO have repeatedly called for urgent action to address the education emergency, stressing the need for a concerted effort to get more girls into school. The theme of this year's **World Girl Child Education Day** emphasizes the transformative power of education in empowering young girls and lifting communities out of poverty.
A key part of addressing the crisis lies in tackling the gender disparity in education. Girls face unique challenges that require targeted interventions, such as **scholarship programs, community outreach, and advocacy to change cultural perceptions of female education. Initiatives like the **Girls’ Education Project (GEP), funded by international partners and implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian government, have made some strides. The GEP has successfully returned over 1.5 million girls to school over the past two years, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the crisis.
Policy and Government Response
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the Nigerian government has made efforts to tackle the out-of-school crisis. One notable response is the establishment of the **National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children**, a body created to integrate children from non-formal education systems into the mainstream. The commission is also working on addressing the needs of **Almajiri children**, who represent a large portion of Northern Nigeria’s out-of-school population. These children, who are often sent away by their families to study under Islamic clerics, have historically been left out of the formal education system.
However, experts agree that more needs to be done. The Nigerian government allocates only a small fraction of its national budget to education. In 2023, education spending accounted for less than 7% of the national budget, far below the 15-20% recommended by the **United Nations**. Without significant financial investment, it will be difficult to close the education gap and meet the Sustainable Development Goal of providing quality education for all by 2030.
The Path Forward
The out-of-school crisis in Nigeria is not just a national issue but a global one. As Nigeria accounts for **20% of the world’s out-of-school children**, the international community has a vested interest in supporting efforts to resolve this crisis. Education is a fundamental human right, and without it, the cycle of poverty and inequality will continue to cripple entire generations.
Moving forward, addressing the education crisis in Nigeria will require a multi-pronged approach**. This includes improving security in the north, increasing financial investment in the education sector, and changing cultural attitudes that devalue the education of girls. Importantly, interventions must also address the root causes of poverty, conflict, and displacement, which are key drivers of the out-of-school phenomenon.
As World Girl Child Education Day draws attention to the challenges facing girls globally, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. With millions of children still out of school, urgent and sustained efforts are required to ensure that education is accessible to all. Only then can Nigeria hope to unlock the potential of its young population and pave the way for a more prosperous and equitable future.
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Sources:
- UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2023
- UNICEF Nigeria Country Office Reports
- Girls' Education Project, UNICEF & Government of Nigeria
