The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says about 7.6 million girls, mostly from the northern region, remain deprived of education in Nigeria.
Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, spoke in Kano while commemorating the International Day of the Girl 2023 at the Government House with the theme: “Our time is now – our rights, our future.”
She noted that while the accomplishments of girls give hope, the bigger picture brings forth an alarming reality as 7.6 million girls in Nigeria remain deprived of those very opportunities.
According to her, “Nigeria, alarmingly, accounts for 15% of out-of-school children worldwide.
“Yet, only a mere 9% of the poorest girls have the chance to attend secondary school. This is not just a statistic, it’s a wake-up call. However, amidst these challenges, we find glimmers of hope.”
She explained that currently, Kano ranked second in the number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria, saying that there was the need, more than ever, to emphasise the transformative power of education, a tool that not only creates opportunities but actively breaks cycles of poverty.
She observed that the sparkle witnessed by students in the event is a testament to the boundless potential that lies within every girl child as their capabilities illustrate the outcomes that are possible when a girl is empowered.
The students, earlier at a panel of discussion, spoke on various issues, including the challenges of insecurity as a major barrier to girl-child education, as well as the need for girls to participate in many sectors of human endeavour.
