Female education in Nigeria

Females in Nigeria have a basic human right to be educated, and this right has been recognized since the year 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR)[1] According to a report in 2014, female education has an important impact on the development of a stable, prosperous and healthy nation state resulting in active, productive and empowered citizens.[2] Educating girls develop growth rates, encourages independence of the girl child and reduces social disparities. In 2009, the Nigerian Population Council (NPC) observed that women with higher educational qualifications are more likely to be in formal wage employment than those at the level of primary school education.[2]

Female students and female teacher in class
Female Youth Corps in Nigeria

A positive correlation exists between the enrollment of girls in primary school and the gross national product (GNP) and increase of life expectancy.[3] Because of this correlation, enrollment in schools represents the largest component of the investment in human capital in any society.[4] Rapid socioeconomic development of a nation has been observed to depend on the quality of women and their education in that country.[5] Education gives women a disposition for a lifelong acquisition of knowledge, values, attitudes, competence, confidence, independence and skills.[6]

To ensure equal access to education, the National Policy on Education states that access to education is a right for all Nigerian children regardless of gender, religion and disability.[7]

  1. ^ "Universal Declaration of Human Rights". Amnesty International. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b Girls education in nigeria. p. 5.
  3. ^ "WDR 2012: Gender Equality and Development". The World Bank. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  4. ^ Schultz, T. P. (2002). "Why Governments should Invest More to Educate Girls". World Development. 30 (2): 207–225. doi:10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00107-3. S2CID 14890311.
  5. ^ Nussbaum, Martha (2003). "Women's Education: A Global Challenge". Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 29 (2): 325–355. doi:10.1086/378571. S2CID 144593937.
  6. ^ Aliu, S, (2001). "The Competitive Drive, New Technologies and Employment: The Human Capital Link". A Paper presented at the Second Tripartite Conference of Manpower Planners. Chelsea Hotel, Abuja.
  7. ^ Funmilola, Akinpelu (2007). "'Dr' Girl-Child Education: A Reality or a Mirage among Females with Hearing Impairment in Nigeria" (PDF). The International Journal of the Humanities. 5 (5). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.