Beyond Barriers: Advancing Girl-Child Education in Northern Nigeria
Ibraheem Abdulganeey
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.
Joseph Oluwadimimu Olorunda
Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Nneji Nmesomachukwu Eneda
*
Department of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, Nigeria.
Oluwasegun Salami Omolosho
Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria.
Gabriel Dogbanya
Department of Family Science, University of Maryland, College Park, USA.
Ademola Busayo Ajayi
Research, Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics, School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Aviation, Oklahoma State University, USA.
Lilian Chinweotito Awah
Department of Educational Management, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Girls in Northern Nigeria face significant obstacles to education due to cultural, economic, and governmental factors. Despite global efforts to change this, patriarchal norms, religious misinterpretations, and detrimental cultural traditions such as early marriage continue to obstruct girls' access to education. Poverty, child work, and inadequate educational institutions exacerbate these issues, further hindering girls' progress. The ineffectiveness of activities lack addressing these concerns has resulted in a continuous cycle of exclusion. This analysis analyses research from 2000 to 2024, highlighting the interrelated cultural, economic, and legal obstacles that restrict girls' educational access, hence perpetuating gender inequality and impeding socioeconomic advancement. The article discusses solutions to the issue, such as implementing gender-sensitive educational policy, increasing community engagement, and exploring other funding options. It emphasizes the use of technology, particularly digital learning, as a means to overcome geographic and cultural obstacles, so offering women in distant regions new opportunities for education. The paper recommends collaboration among governments, local communities, and international groups to address these issues. It further emphasizes the necessity to investigate the efficacy of digital education programs and their long-term societal and economic ramifications.
Keywords: Girl-child, education, empowerment, policies