13 million Nigerian students face violence in schools — Rights Group

A girls’ rights group, Plan International Nigeria, has raised concerns over recent statistics indicating that 13 million Nigerian students face one form of violence or another in schools.

A breakdown reveals that 7 million girls and 6 million boys experience violence from either their teachers or classmates while in school.

The group expressed fears that if the current trend is not reversed, the number of out-of-school children could rise from the current 18–20 million.

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Jonathan Abakpa, the Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer at Plan International Nigeria, disclosed this during a Legislative and Policy Round-table Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence in Education.

The event was organized by Plan International Nigeria, Girls Get Equal Nigeria, and the EU Youth Sounding Board, in partnership with the House of Representatives Committees on Women Affairs and Basic Education Services.

The theme was “Creating Safe and Equitable Educational Environments for All.”

Abakpa, who expressed concern about the data, noted that the actual figures might be higher as there are no comprehensive statistics for out-of-school children or those in informal education.

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He said that the statistics highlight a critical state of Nigeria’s education sector, stating that these issues must be addressed because violence is being perpetrated against individuals daily.

Abakpa explained that the aim of the dialogue was to engage policymakers and critical stakeholders on how policy and legislation can address all forms of violence against girls.

Highlighting the current repeal process of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the Sexual Harassment Bill, which is before the Senate after being passed by the House of Representatives, he called for strengthened policies and legislation.

He stated, “It is not enough for these policies to be repealed, amended, and re-enacted. We want commitment reflected in budgetary allocations.

We are advocating for an increment in the education budget line in the 2025 appropriation bill. We want this commitment to reflect in the enforcement of safe schools for both girls and boys.

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We need deliberate government efforts to ensure security and protect citizens’ rights.”

Abakpa also stressed the need for strengthened policies and legislation through capacity-building for officers tasked with implementing these laws to ensure their full execution.

He further called on the 10th Assembly to review the contentious Section 29 of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that once a girl is married, she is deemed an adult.

He argued that this clause might support child marriage, even though the Child Rights Act prohibits it and makes it an offence to marry anyone under the age of 18.