The World Bank has revealed that 45% of girls in Nigeria give birth before the age of 18. This statistic was shared by the Country Director, Ndiame Diop, during the National Conference on Girls’ Education and Empowerment held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking on the theme “Effective Partnership on Girls’ Education: Out-of-School Children Education for National Development,” Diop, represented by Deputy Country Director Taimur Samad, noted that over two-thirds of girls drop out before junior secondary school, with 35% married by age 15.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa highlighted barriers such as poverty, child labor, and harmful cultural practices, which hinder girls’ access to education. He called for collective efforts involving traditional and religious leaders to advocate for change.
The conference emphasized the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project as a pathway to address these challenges. Stakeholders remain optimistic about building an environment where girls can thrive.
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