More than 9.5 million girls in Nigeria remain out of school, according to Bukky Shonibare, Executive Director of Invictus Africa, who spoke at a high-level policy dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday. The event, organised by the Malala Fund, brought together stakeholders to push for increased financing and gender-responsive planning in education. Nabila Aguele, CEO of the Malala Fund, said the organisation supports local groups working to advance 12 years of quality education for girls, particularly at the secondary level. She stressed that closing financing gaps alone is not enough—spending must be quality-driven and paired with accountability to yield results. Aguele noted that federal investment in education continues to fall short of set targets. Shonibare pointed out that Nigeria allocated only seven per cent of its 2025 national budget to education, well below UNESCO's recommended 15 to 20 per cent. She cited structural barriers such as early pregnancy, lack of female teachers, poor infrastructure, and unsafe schools as key obstacles. Alhaji Bashir Mohammed, Permanent Secretary of Kano State Ministry of Education, said Kano allocated over 39 per cent of its budget to education to support vulnerable girls. In Oyo State, Mrs Olufunke Karunwi said initiatives like school feeding, free uniforms, and safe transport are being used to boost girls' participation. UN Women's Country Representative, Beatrice Eyong, said targeted investment in girls' education can generate returns of over 21 times the initial cost.
Nabila Aguele's emphasis on funding local actors over direct intervention reveals a quiet shift in how global education advocacy is being restructured—through local leverage, not foreign delivery. With Kano allocating 39 per cent of its budget to education, the real issue isn't political will alone but whether such funds reach girl-child programmes in measurable ways. Given that Nigeria still spends less than half the UNESCO benchmark nationally, promises without verified disbursements risk becoming political theatre. For millions of out-of-school girls, budget lines mean little unless they translate to classrooms, teachers, and safety.
