Pakistani education activist, Malala Yousafzai
The Malala Fund has pledged $50 million to tackle barriers hindering girls’ access to education worldwide, with a significant portion allocated to Nigeria.
According to Nankwat Dakum, Communications Manager for the Fund in Nigeria, the funding is part of a new five-year strategy titled “Strengthening Rights and Securing Resources for Girls’ Secondary Education”.
Dakum highlighted that the strategy will support local groups, advocate for better education funding, and help girls complete 12 years of education, particularly those affected by early marriage.
“Girls face child marriage, poverty, gender violence, and insecurity — challenges worsened by underinvestment in education,” she said.
“Malala Fund’s strategy will address this by supporting women-led organisations, demanding fair education policies, and holding leaders accountable for education funding”.
The Fund will prioritize Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, and Oyo states, while also engaging with the federal government to push for electoral reforms.
Over five million Nigerian girls remain out of school, with the North-East and North-West regions worst affected.
Nigeria Chief Executive of Malala Fund, Nabila Aguele, praised girls for standing up for their education rights.
“We are witnessing adolescent girls in Nigeria demand education, despite overwhelming odds,” she said.
“This strategy represents our promise to support them. Advancing girls’ education demands swift policy reforms and local engagement”.
The Malala Fund has empowered 21.8 million girls over the past decade and invested over $56 million.
Its co-founder, Ziauddin Yousafzai, recently visited Nigeria to mobilize men and boys to support girls’ right to education, marking a vital step in implementing the Fund’s strategic plan.
