Abuja: Malala Yousafzai, Co-founder of the Malala Fund, emphasized Nigeria’s significance in the Fund’s global projects during a high-level stakeholder event in Abuja. The event, titled ‘Partners in Change: Shaping the Future of Girls’ Education Together,’ marked a strategic move to advance girls’ education priorities in Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Malala and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, are visiting Nigeria to engage with the Fund’s Board of Directors. The visit focuses on ensuring married and pregnant girls can return to school, increasing education financing, and using education as a policy tool to combat child marriage. Malala highlighted that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children, including girls eager to learn and build a future.
Malala stressed that girls’ education faces threats globally, mentioning Afghanistan as an example where girls are banned from learning. In Nigeria, challenges include school safety, teaching quality, forced marriages, and socio-economic barriers. The Malala Fund aims to use education to address these issues and facilitate the re-enrollment of girls in schools.
She noted that 120 million girls are out of school worldwide, with nearly five million in Nigeria. This situation underscores the need for policy changes to ensure every girl receives 12 years of education with adequate funding. The Malala Fund advocates for increased and equitable education financing, ensuring budgets address the needs of girls affected by poverty and insecurity.
NAN reports that the Fund’s grantees, such as Invictus Africa, are working with Oyo and Gombe states on Gender Responsive Education Budgeting. Another partner, the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), has supported Adamawa in developing its first gender-responsive Policy on Education. The event also included a fireside chat and testimonies from partners.
A notable highlight was a $500,000 donation from Hauwa Ojeifo, Executive Director of She Writes Woman, through her Global Impact Fund for Women and Girls.