The Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation (IA-Foundation) has advocated for urgent investment in girls’ education, warning that poverty, child marriage and inadequate funding are eroding Nigeria’s economic potential.
The organization claimed out of 18.3 million out-of-school children at the basic education level, roughly 7.6 million are females. It stressed that keeping girls out of school deprived the country of future skilled workers, economic prospects and social advancement.
At a webinar arranged to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, themed ‘Investing in the Girl Child’, the founder of IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, asked the government and other stakeholders to prioritise girls’ education in the present, rather than making future promises. Support the Causes
Adeagbo added that educating a girl will not only benefit the girl, but also her family and community. She urged Nigerians to see how much they are putting in girls’ education and development.
The webinar brought together education professionals, policymakers, advocates and other stakeholders to discuss how investment in girls’ education could be a catalyst for driving economic growth and social change.
Bolaji Osime, an international education strategy and consultant, who delivered the keynote lecture, said educating girls might prevent child marriage, broaden economic opportunities and boost Nigeria’s long-term development prospects.
She, however, raised worry that Nigeria invests only approximately 6.1 per cent of its Federal Government budget to education, which is considerably below the 15 per cent threshold given at the event as suggested by UNESCO.BuyMaps
Poverty, damaging societal norms, poor finance and insufficient enforcement of current education legislation are major hurdles to girls’ access to education, Osime said.
Child marriage also has huge economic implications for the country, she said. Denying girls education reduces their earning potential and deprives Nigeria of the benefits of a better educated workforce.
Osime mentioned developments in Abia State where over 10, 000 teachers have been educated and employed as a proof that purposeful government intervention would enhance educational performance.
She appealed for additional financing in education, scholarships for skills acquisition, cash transfers to needy families, improved school infrastructure and increased community engagement to keep girls in school. Registration Classes
The education strategist called on stakeholders to take tangible action within the next 12 months to ensure that every girl has access to 12 years of free and safe schooling.
Toyin Taiwo-Ojo Ndidi, a legal practitioner and founder of the Stop the Abuse Against Women and Children Foundation, has advocated for better enforcement of laws protecting girls against child marriage and other abuses.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Ending Child Marriage: Protecting the Rights and the Future of the Nigerian Girl’, she told the story of a 14-year-old girl married off in Lagos State, warning that the practice still continues even in sophisticated cities.
She said child marriage was due to poverty, poor education, social pressure and cultural beliefs that saw women as second-class citizens. Find a Family Lawyer
“In some cases, parents use girls as bargaining tools to pay off debts, exposing them to abuse and denying them the chance to decide their own futures,” she said.
According to the speaker, Nigeria has enough legal structures to safeguard children but lacked political will to implement them effectively.
She called on the government and civil society organisations to punish the criminals and stepped up the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
She also called for keeping girls in school, assisting disadvantaged families, involving traditional and religious leaders and bolstering child protection mechanisms.
She feels that boys and girls should be taught equally about self-discipline and respect for women’s bodies to avoid abuse and gender inequality. Support Causes
Kizazi’s Chief Executive Officer, Rhoda Odigboh also spoke, saying developing safer communities for females is more than protection from physical assault.
Odigboh described five levels of safety: physical, emotional, psychological, educational and relational.
She warned that less obvious hurdles such as low teacher expectations, unequal participation in classes and under-representation of girls in textbooks and learning materials might damage girls’ confidence and limit their future chances.
Policies and legal protections must translate into real advances in the daily lives of vulnerable girls, she said.
Odigboh advocated for gender-responsive education in teacher training programs, functional referral systems to report gender-based violence and child safety concerns, free menstrual health support and clean sanitation facilities in schools. Locate a Family Attorney
She also called for more collaboration among education, health, social welfare, justice and child protection sectors, noting that Kizazi was collaborating with the Enugu State Government on an implementation study project on gender-responsive teaching.
Mercy Okemosi, one of the beneficiaries of the organization, presented her perspective on how she overcame hurdles and her desire to be a professional in mass communication and a role model to other girls.
Participants flooded her account with messages of support and encouragement.
In his remarks, the Acting Board Chairman, Olubowale Sangosanya, urged affluent individuals, corporate organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the foundation’s activities.
He urged Nigerians to fund the education of children, volunteer or partner with the organization and also called on non-governmental organisations and the Federal Government to collaborate toward reducing the number of out-of-school children in the country.
IA-Foundation, a non-profit organization seeking to give children from poor homes access to formal education, said it has assisted 105 street children to get back to school by paying for their school fees and providing vital study materials.
The organization stated it presently had 18 supporters for its Sponsor a Child program.
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