UNICEF has reported that in Nigeria, approximately 7.6 million girls, mainly from the northern region, are not receiving an education. Ms.
Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, highlighted this issue during an event in Kano marking the International Day of the Girl 2023, which focused on the theme “Our time is now – our rights, our future.”
She emphasized that while there have been achievements by girls that give hope, the overall picture is concerning with millions of girls in Nigeria missing out on educational opportunities. Nigeria has an alarming 15% of the world’s out-of-school children.
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Challenges in Girls’ Education
Only a small 9% of the poorest girls have the opportunity to attend secondary school, which is a serious concern that needs attention.
Kano, in particular, has a significant number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria. Munduate stressed the importance of education as a tool that not only opens doors to opportunities but also helps break the cycle of poverty.
She noted that the students’ participation in the event illustrated the incredible potential within every girl child and the positive outcomes when they are empowered.
During a panel discussion, students highlighted challenges such as insecurity as a major obstacle to girls’ education and stressed the need for girls to be involved in various fields of human endeavor.
