Every year on October 11, the world marks the International Day of the Girl Child — a day set aside by the United Nations to highlight the challenges facing girls globally and to promote their empowerment, education, and rights. The 2025 theme, “Girls’ Rights, Our Future,” calls attention to the urgent need to protect and invest in the world’s 600 million adolescent girls.
In Nigeria, the day comes as a sobering reminder of the enormous barriers that millions of girls continue to face — from poverty and child marriage to sexual violence, limited access to education, and harmful cultural practices that hinder their dreams. Despite progress in policy and advocacy, the reality remains grim for many Nigerian girls, particularly those in rural and conflict-affected regions.
A Grim Reality for the Nigerian Girl Child
According to UNICEF, Nigeria is home to one of the largest populations of out-of-school children in the world — with 10.5 million children aged 5 to 14 not attending school. Of this number, six out of every ten are girls. In northern states such as Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara, cultural norms, insecurity, and poverty have created an environment where educating girls is often considered a luxury rather than a necessity.
For many girls in rural Nigeria, early marriage remains a tragic reality. UNICEF estimates that 43% of Nigerian girls are married before their 18th birthday, and about 17% are married before turning 15. In the North-West and North-East regions, the figures are even higher, often linked to poverty, religious beliefs, and traditional customs that view girls as economic assets or symbols of family honour.
The consequences of early marriage are devastating. Married girls are often forced to drop out of school, exposed to early pregnancies, and denied autonomy over their bodies and futures. Early pregnancy, in turn, contributes to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, one of the highest in the world, with young mothers facing serious health complications or even death during childbirth.
“When a girl is married off as a child, she loses her childhood, her education, and her potential,” says Dr. Habiba Lawal, a gender and education advocate. “The ripple effect is generational — it keeps families trapped in poverty and denies communities the benefit of educated women who could contribute to development.”
Education: A Distant Dream for Many Girls
Education is universally recognised as a powerful tool for empowerment, yet millions of Nigerian girls are still denied access to quality learning. Insecurity in the North-East, where Boko Haram and banditry have targeted schools, has worsened the situation. Since the Chibok school abduction in 2014, more than 1,400 students — mostly girls — have been kidnapped in various attacks on schools across northern Nigeria.
Fear of abduction, combined with poverty and weak infrastructure, has led to the closure of hundreds of schools. Parents, especially in remote communities, are reluctant to send their daughters to school, fearing for their safety. In some states, the “Safe Schools Initiative” launched to protect learning environments has suffered setbacks due to inadequate funding and poor implementation.
Even in areas where schools remain open, the quality of education is often poor. Overcrowded classrooms, lack of female teachers, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient learning materials discourage girls from attending or completing school. In some regions, girls must walk several kilometres daily to reach the nearest school, facing the risk of harassment or assault along the way.
“Many girls want to learn, but their environment does not support their ambition,” says Mrs. Amina Yusuf, a school principal in Bauchi State. “When a girl has to choose between safety and schooling, education loses.”
Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination
Gender-based violence continues to threaten the safety and dignity of girls across Nigeria. Reports of sexual assault, domestic violence, and exploitation are rampant, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and weak enforcement of laws.
A 2024 report by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that one in four Nigerian girls experiences sexual violence before age 18. In conflict zones, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation by insurgents, security personnel, and even aid workers. Many victims receive little or no psychological support, and justice remains elusive in most cases.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is another persistent challenge, especially in states like Osun, Ekiti, and Ebonyi. Despite being outlawed, about 20% of Nigerian girls aged 15 to 19 have undergone the practice, according to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). The practice is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs that associate it with purity or marriageability, but it inflicts lifelong trauma and health risks.
Economic Inequality and the Burden of Poverty
Poverty remains at the heart of the girl child’s plight. With over 63% of Nigerians living below the poverty line, many families prioritize boys’ education and view daughters as future wives or caregivers rather than potential professionals. The economic shock from inflation, unemployment, and rising food prices has deepened gender inequality.
For poor households, sending a girl to school can seem like an unaffordable luxury when she could instead contribute to family income through hawking or domestic work. This explains why child labour remains widespread among Nigerian girls — with millions engaged in street trading, domestic service, or farm labour.
“When poverty bites, the girl child is the first casualty,” says sociologist Dr. Ifeanyi Nwosu. “Families withdraw her from school to cut costs, and she becomes invisible in the system.”
Policy Efforts and the Road Ahead
To address these challenges, Nigeria has enacted several laws and policies, including the Child Rights Act (2003), which sets the legal age of marriage at 18, and the National Policy on Gender in Basic Education. However, enforcement remains weak, as only 25 out of 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act.
Government and civil society organisations continue to champion the cause of girls through initiatives like the Girls’ Education Project (GEP3) supported by UNICEF and DFID, and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), which aims to improve secondary school enrolment for girls.
While these programs have recorded some successes — such as increased enrolment and community awareness — experts argue that sustainable progress requires holistic action: economic empowerment of families, stronger legal enforcement, investment in school infrastructure, and campaigns to change cultural mindsets that devalue girls.
“We must go beyond celebrating girls once a year,” said UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate. “We need year-round commitment to dismantle barriers, fund education, and protect girls from violence and discrimination.”
A Call to Action
As Nigeria joins the world to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, the message is clear: empowering girls is not charity — it is smart development. Educated and empowered girls grow into women who lift families, communities, and economies out of poverty.
The government, private sector, religious leaders, and communities must all play a part in rewriting the story of the Nigerian girl child. This includes enforcing existing laws against child marriage and gender-based violence, investing in safe and inclusive schools, and providing mentorship opportunities for girls in STEM, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Until every girl in Nigeria can go to school safely, make decisions about her body, and pursue her dreams without fear or discrimination, the fight for gender equality remains incomplete.
As the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, Nigeria must look beyond rhetoric and commit to action — because the future of the nation depends on the future of its girls.
