Olufemi Adeyemi 

Globally, millions of girls confront significant obstacles that impede their ability to access education, healthcare, and fundamental human rights. As reported by UNESCO in 2023, an alarming 129 million girls remain out of school, underscoring the profound disparities in educational opportunities. This crisis is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where cultural barriers, economic challenges, and security concerns disproportionately impact girls' access to education.

In Nigeria, a significant number of children, approximately 10.5 million, are not receiving an education, with a substantial proportion, over 60%, being female. For these girls, their educational opportunities are frequently disrupted due to early marriages and the urgent need to contribute to the survival of their families. Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicate that in Northern Nigeria, 45.7% of girls are married before reaching the age of 18, effectively terminating their formal education. Consequently, many girls in Nigeria face either interrupted or inaccessible education, resulting in a persistent cycle of early marriage, lower literacy rates, and limited economic prospects.

One of the many young women whose aspirations were nearly derailed by the harsh realities of poverty was Aisha. Aisha, who was raised by her 75-year-old grandmother in Ilorin, Nigeria, spent her days selling individual water packets in the bustling markets to help support her family. She balanced a tray on her head and shouted through the crowded streets every day, hoping to make enough money to support her family. Despite her academic potential and desire to pursue a medical career, her education was in jeopardy due to her family's financial difficulties.

Ms. Aisha experienced a significant improvement in her circumstances after receiving a scholarship from the Oando Foundation. Through their flagship program, the Adopt-a-School Initiative, Ms. Aisha was able to complete her secondary school education and emerge as one of the top-performing students in her class. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed her profound gratitude to the Oando Foundation for providing her with a second chance. Her story serves as a compelling testament to the transformative power of educational support, even in the face of challenging circumstances.

Since its inception in 2011, Oando Foundation, an independent charity dedicated to supporting the Nigerian government in achieving its Universal Basic Education goals, has emerged as a key advocate for the educational empowerment of girls in Nigeria. Its interventions are designed, in part, to address the multifaceted challenges that girls face, ensuring they have equal opportunities to access quality education.

Through its Adopt-a-School Initiative, Oando Foundation has proactively intervened to facilitate the reintegration of female students, particularly in Northern Nigeria, by providing scholarships to exceptional young girls in partner schools, constructing WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities to foster a conducive learning environment, facilitating mentorship opportunities, upskilling female educators, and engaging with community leaders to cultivate confidence, optimism, and support.

The Oando Scholars Program provides scholarships to top-performing final-year students from partner schools to facilitate their transition to secondary and, in some instances, tertiary education. This award encompasses tuition and related costs, such as transportation, study materials, and uniforms. Notably, over 600 female scholars have benefited from this program, representing approximately 60% of the total beneficiaries.

The Foundation, in partnership with relevant state agencies and School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), has successfully reintegrated 31,867 girls into formal education. The Foundation has provided these girls with the necessary resources and support to ensure their continued educational success.

In addition to financial support, the Foundation endeavors to establish a secure and conducive learning environment by constructing WASH facilities in schools. By ensuring access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and privacy for menstruating girls, the Foundation effectively tackles the root causes of absenteeism among female students. Furthermore, the provision of safe spaces and female mentors addresses the socio-emotional well-being of the girls, fostering improved educational outcomes.

In line with its commitment to empowering young girls through STEM education, the Foundation, in partnership with TheirWorld UK, equipped 120 girls with essential technology skills through a Code Club. This initiative aims to foster their academic interests and advance STEM education among girls. It aligns with our current LEARNOVATE strategy, which focuses on utilizing innovative approaches to enhance pupils' learning outcomes and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century.

In observance of this year's International Day of the Girl Child, Oando Foundation collaborated with the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), and other development partners to attend the two-day International Conference on Girl Child Education. This conference aimed to address crucial issues pertaining to access to education and quality, particularly for the girl child in Nigeria. During the event, Tonia Uduimoh, the Programmes Manager at Oando Foundation, presented the foundation's ongoing initiatives to promote girl child education. She emphasized the significance of improving education financing, implementing accountability mechanisms to monitor progress, and facilitating the exchange of best practices among stakeholders to amplify the impact of these efforts.

Also moderating a high-level panel on "Girl Child Education Intervention Strategies: National and Subnational Partnership for Quality and Inclusive Skills Development in the States," Tonia, along with Commissioners of Education from Enugu, Edo, Bauchi, and Rivers States, analyzed effective strategies to improve girl child education in Nigeria. They identified key challenges and proposed state-level and partner-led programs to bridge the inclusivity gap. The event's highlight was the introduction of Girl Child Education Ambassadors and Girl Child Education Advocates, both crucial steps in advancing girl child advocacy in Nigeria.

In alignment with the theme of this year's International Day of the Girl Child, "Girls' Vision for the Future," the Oando Foundation remains dedicated to championing initiatives that empower girls and pave the way for their success. Through continuous advocacy and strategic interventions, the Foundation is committed to eradicating cycles of inequality, exclusion, and stereotypes, thereby enabling girls to envision and achieve brighter futures.