International Women’s Day 2024 comes at a pivotal time, and the theme ‘Visions for Women’s Future’ is not only timely, but essential. For Nigeria, a country full of youthful energy and potential, it is vital that we focus on the education and empowerment of girls.
This is not just a call for fairness, but also an investment in the future of the country. Girls’ education and empowerment in Nigeria is a prerequisite for sustainable development, social stability and economic prosperity.
Education is often said to be the most powerful weapon for changing the world, a concept famously advocated by Nelson Mandela. Mandela’s words ring especially true in the context of Nigeria, where millions of children, especially girls, remain out of school. Educated girls are empowered to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of the cycle of poverty. They are less likely to become victims of child marriage, violence, and maternal health risks. However, despite this well-known fact, girls in many parts of Nigeria still face barriers to accessing education.
For example, in northern Nigeria, cultural and religious norms often prioritize early marriage over schooling for girls. As a result, more than 10.5 million children in Nigeria are out of school, a significant proportion of whom are girls. This not only limits girls’ personal growth but also slows down national progress. A World Bank study found that every additional year of education a girl gains increases her future earnings by 10 to 20 percent. Imagine the transformative power this could have on the Nigerian economy.
Furthermore, educated women are more likely to educate their children as well, thus creating intergenerational spillover effects. If we are serious about breaking the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria, educating girls is not an option but a necessity.
Girls’ empowerment is the next step in education, and both are deeply intertwined. Education lays the foundation, but empowerment gives girls the tools to overcome life’s challenges and seize opportunities. Empowerment in this sense goes beyond literacy and numeracy. This includes self-confidence, critical thinking, leadership skills, and financial independence.
One of the best examples of empowerment can be seen in the life of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist who continued to fight for the right to education for girls around the world despite attempts on her life. . Malala’s courage and resilience remind us that when girls are educated and empowered, they have the power to change the world.
This empowerment is even more important in Nigeria, where a patriarchal system dominates many aspects of society. When girls are empowered, they can challenge the status quo and contribute to social change.
Furthermore, empowering girls has far-reaching implications for society’s well-being. Empowered girls grow into women who can actively participate in the economic, political, and social spheres. She is more likely to delay marriage, make informed health choices, and contribute positively to her community. In contrast, disenfranchised girls often become trapped in cycles of dependency, which perpetuate poverty and inequality.
Despite overwhelming support for girls’ education and empowerment, numerous barriers still exist in Nigeria. These barriers include poverty, early marriage, and deeply ingrained cultural norms. However, solutions are within reach.
First, government policy must focus on making education accessible and compulsory for all girls. This includes building more schools in rural areas, providing scholarships, and providing incentives for families to send their daughters to school. It is equally important to challenge and change cultural norms that downplay the value of women’s education through awareness campaigns and community engagement.
Non-governmental organizations and private sector partnerships can also play an important role. For example, organizations such as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Malala Fund have been instrumental in championing girls’ education in Nigeria. Such efforts must be stepped up to ensure that girls are not left behind.
As we mark International Day of Women 2024, it is important to remember that girls hold the key to our future. If we don’t invest in their education and empowerment now, their vision for a better tomorrow will remain a distant dream.
The time to act is now. Our girls deserve not only a vision for their future, but the opportunity to build it.
Philomena wrote from Utako in Abuja.
