Presidential candidate Peter Obi of the Labour Party has emphasized the need for increased investment in education to unleash the full potential of girls.
Obi delivered this message on the International Day of the Girl Child, expressing grave concern over the impact of ineffective governance and political misconduct on Nigerian youth, with a specific focus on the challenges faced by young girls.
He highlighted the inadequate funding allocated to education in Nigeria, which has created substantial barriers, disproportionately affecting the ability of many young girls to access high-quality education.
“In addition to inadequate government funding for education, the pervasive insecurity in various regions of the nation, as well as various socio-cultural factors, persistently obstruct the education of the girl child in Nigeria. Reports indicate that approximately 1.3 million girls discontinue their education annually, failing to progress beyond the last year of lower secondary school, which is Junior Secondary School three (JSS 3).
“In 2022, girls made up 60% of the 18.5 million out-of-school children, resulting in approximately 10 million girls being deprived of education. Regrettably, the numbers have since worsened. This dire situation exacerbates gender inequality, with only 1 in 4 girls from impoverished rural backgrounds successfully completing their Junior Secondary school education in Nigeria. The current challenges faced by Nigerian girl children on their path to success and societal impact are indeed substantial,” Obi explained.
Furthermore, Obi said it is imperative that Nigeria establishes a secure and nurturing society where the girl child can thrive, develop, and realise her full potential without constraint.
“We must prioritise increased investment in education, strive for gender parity in school enrollment, and work towards creating a safer nation for our children.
“By taking these steps, we can initiate the return of the 22 million out-of-school children in our nation to classrooms and equip the girl child with the knowledge, skills, and strong ethical character necessary for her to flourish and excel not only in Nigeria but also on the global stage,” Obi concluded.
