Peter Obi Advocates for Quality Education for the Girl Child on International Day of the Girl Child

By Iyojo Ameh

Mr. Peter Obi has highlighted the importance of investing in quality education, particularly at the elementary level, as a crucial commitment for the empowerment of the girl child.

Mr. Obi expressed his concern about the challenges faced by Nigerian youth, especially the girl child, due to ineffective governance and political misconduct in the country.

He pointed out that the inadequate allocation of funds for education has created significant barriers, making it especially difficult for many young girls to access quality education.

Furthermore, Mr. Obi noted that insecurity in various regions of the nation, along with 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.

In 2022, girls constituted 60% of the 18.5 million out-of-school children, resulting in approximately 10 million girls being deprived of education. Regrettably, these numbers have since worsened, exacerbating gender inequality. Only 1 in 4 girls from impoverished rural backgrounds successfully complete their Junior Secondary school education in Nigeria.

Mr. Obi stressed the importance of establishing a secure and nurturing society where the girl child can thrive, develop, and realize her full potential without constraint.

He called for increased investment in education, striving for gender parity in school enrollment, and working towards creating a safer nation for 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,” Mr. Obi concluded.