The governors of Nigeria’s 36 states have committed to allocating at least 15% of their annual budgets to education, focusing on addressing the challenges faced by school children, particularly girls.
This announcement was made by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chair of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), following the International Conference on Girl Child Education held in Abuja.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, also stressed the importance of tackling the country’s high rate of out-of-school children, noting that 25.6% of primary school-age children and 29.6% of secondary school-age children are not enrolled in school. He warned of future consequences if the issue remains unresolved, saying, “The dignity of the girl child defines every civilization… We bear the responsibility of setting the tone for this nation.”
The NGF committed to financing education, especially for girls, as a means of addressing barriers like poverty and early marriage. Governor AbdulRazaq emphasized, “Investing in education is not just a target; it is a necessity for the future of our children.”
Additionally, the NGF announced plans to engage over 774,000 volunteers to promote girl child education and launched initiatives aimed at addressing out-of-school children challenges. The federal government, represented by Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, will also begin rescuing out-of-school children from the streets starting October 15, 2024.
The conference marked a significant step toward improving education in Nigeria, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child.
