The theme of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child is “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” emphasising the value of educating and empowering girls, especially in Nigeria. Millions of children in Nigeria—particularly girls—miss school as a result of early marriage, cultural conventions, and financial obstacles. Particularly impacted is Northern Nigeria, where girls’ Education is frequently neglected in favour of marriage. Since educated ladies are more likely to earn higher earnings, postpone marriage, and support their children’s education, education is essential to ending Poverty cycles and promoting national development.
Education is the first step towards empowerment, which aids in the development of girls’ critical thinking, leadership, and financial independence. One person who is used to illustrate the strength of educated and empowered females is Malala Yousafzai. In order to challenge patriarchal norms, systemic change must be achieved through government programs, rural infrastructure, scholarships, and social movements. Non-governmental groups like the Malala Fund and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) are striving to assist with these initiatives. The call to action highlights how important it is to invest in girls now for Nigeria’s and the world’s sustainable development.
129 million females worldwide continue to not attend school.
According to UNICEF, as of 2024, more than 10.5 million children in Nigeria are not attending school, with a notable proportion of female students. About 60% of these out-of-school children reside in northern Nigeria, where cultural norms frequently impede female education, according to the Global Education Monitoring Report (2022). 129 million females worldwide continue to not attend school, according to UNESCO figures. Nigeria lags behind other nations like Kenya, despite having one of the largest percentages of females not attending school.
Kenya has witnessed notable advancements in the education of females due to the implementation of aggressive policies and free Basic Education programs. A young girl from northern Nigeria named Amina Mohammed is an inspirational example of perseverance. Amina, who was 13 when she was forced into marriage, was committed to finishing her education. She left the Marriage with the help of neighbourhood NGOs and enrolled in a nearby school. Amina, who is currently 18 years old, is pursuing her dream of becoming a Teacher and fights for the rights of other young girls in her neighbourhood.
Obstacles of deeply ingrained patriarchal norms impede progress in Nigeria.
Her experience shows how education and willpower may end oppressive and impoverished cycles. There are numerous ways that people and organisations can lend their support to the cause. Scholarships, Infrastructure upgrades, and educational initiatives can be funded by donations to UNICEF, the Malala Fund, or regional Nigerian NGOs. Volunteers with experience in education, outreach to the community, or campaigning can work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Plan International or the Girls Education Mission International to build schools, mentor young girls, or run awareness campaigns.
Girls’ education success stories abound in nations like Rwanda and Kenya. Girls began attending schools in greater numbers in Kenya after the government offered free elementary education in 2003. Kenyan women read 84% of the country’s books by 2020. Ninety-eight percent of Rwandan girls are currently finishing their elementary school thanks to the government’s implementation of gender-responsive education policy. The obstacles of poverty, early marriage, and deeply ingrained patriarchal norms impede progress in Nigeria, whereas these accomplishments stand in stark contrast.
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In certain rural areas, targeted interventions like Community Engagement programs and conditional cash transfers for families have increased the enrolment of girls by 20%, according to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) 2023 Report on Girls’ Education in Nigeria. By demonstrating that community Empowerment leads to higher rates of education, the Malala Fund’s 2024 “Girls Education in Crisis” study emphasises the significance of including local communities in decision-making processes to alter cultural norms.