"UNICEF's Alarming Revelation: Over 50% of Nigerian Girls Deprived of Education"

 

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has revealed that more than half of the girls in Nigeria cannot attend school. Jutaro Sakamoto, the head of education at UNICEF, made this statement during a conference on education organized by the French Institute in Nigeria, which was held in Abuja.

Sakamoto pointed out that an impressive 7.6 million girls in Nigeria are currently not enrolled in school, including 3.9 million at the primary level and 3.7 million at the secondary level. Moreover, he pointed out that almost half of these girls who do not have access to education come from the North-West and North-East regions of Nigeria.

The head of education also highlighted a marked disparity: only 9% of economically disadvantaged girls have the opportunity to continue their education at secondary level, while 81% of girls from more affluent households have access to secondary education.
Sakamoto expressed his concern about Nigeria's alarming statistic, stating, "If we cannot solve this problem in Nigeria, we will not be able to solve it anywhere else in the world."

In addition, he stressed that even within the population of lucky children who have the opportunity to enroll in educational institutions, the quality of the education provided is often compromised due to a serious shortage of essential resources and a lack of adequate equipment. This deplorable situation perpetuates educational disparities and hinders the overall development of these young learners.

To address this pressing issue, UNICEF has taken proactive measures by launching comprehensive programmes aimed at ensuring that children who were once deprived of access to formal education not only have the opportunity to attend school, but also to benefit from a high-quality education. These initiatives encompass a multidimensional approach, including the provision of necessary teaching materials, teacher training and infrastructure improvements to create an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning.

In essence, UNICEF recognizes that to solve the education crisis in Nigeria, it is necessary not only to increase access to schools, but also to improve the overall educational experience for all children. Through these initiatives, the objective is to equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills they need to flourish and contribute positively to society, thus breaking the cycle of inequality and poverty.