HiLWA, a non-governmental organization, has teamed up with UNICEF to enhance educational opportunities for girls.
Francis Elisha, UNICEF’s education specialist in Sokoto, reported that participants from 12 northern states attended a two-day HiLWA meeting in Kaduna on Thursday.
Elisha noted that the women involved have distinguished themselves in their careers, with some reaching high-ranking positions such as directors, permanent secretaries, and commissioners. He emphasized the significant role women play in advancing adolescent education and addressing the issue of out-of-school children.
Gerida Birukila, UNICEF’s chief in Kaduna, underscored that every child has a right to education, a principle supported by global agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention Against Discrimination in Education.
Birukila expressed concern that despite ongoing efforts by the Federal Government, various states, and development partners, challenges remain with out-of-school children in Nigeria. She highlighted recent data showing that 26% of primary school-aged children and 25% of junior secondary school-aged children are out of school.
Birukila also pointed out regional disparities. In the North-East, nearly half of primary school-aged children are out of school, followed by 40% in the North-West. In contrast, the South-East has a much lower rate of around 9%. These differences underscore the need for targeted interventions.
Additionally, Birukila noted a significant gap between urban and rural areas. Rural children face out-of-school rates up to 25 percentage points higher than their urban counterparts. Among the poorest families, 57% of primary school-aged children and 58% of junior secondary school-aged children are out of school.