The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Nigeria’s girls’ education crisis extends beyond school enrolment, disclosing that nearly three-quarters of girls lack foundational literacy and numeracy skills, while one in four remains out of school.

The agency said poverty, insecurity, unsafe learning environments and harmful cultural practices were preventing millions of girls from accessing quality education, warning that the consequences included child marriage, adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence.

UNICEF Education Officer in Abuja, Blessing Afuwai, raised the concerns on Monday during the 2026 commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.

Afuwai said expanding access to education had yet to guarantee that Nigerian girls acquired the knowledge and skills needed to secure employment, achieve economic independence and participate meaningfully in society.

She explained that financial constraints forced some families to withdraw their daughters from school or deny them educational opportunities, while insecurity and inadequate learning environments further weakened girls’ chances of completing their education.

“When girls are denied opportunities to learn and develop skills, their prospects for employment, economic empowerment and meaningful participation in society are significantly diminished,” she said.

The UNICEF official stressed that the realities confronting millions of girls fell short of their aspirations, calling on the government, communities and development partners to close the gap between educational commitments and outcomes.

She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government to ensure that every girl enrols in school, acquires relevant skills and completes her education.

The agency also pledged continued collaboration with the government to advance inclusive and quality education through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, launched by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Responding to the concerns, the Federal Ministry of Education pledged to strengthen policies and programmes to improve girls’ enrolment, retention, transition and completion rates.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olatunji-David Folake, said the government was implementing the National Policy on Gender Education while collaborating with development partners and non-governmental organisations to expand safe learning spaces, provide menstrual hygiene support and offer scholarships to girls.

She said the government was pursuing an integrated approach that combines education with health, protection and empowerment to address the multiple barriers preventing girls from realising their potential.

According to her, initiatives such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Lumina Project for Girls are part of ongoing efforts to improve educational opportunities and equip girls with the skills needed to thrive.

She added that the government would continue to expand girls’ access to secondary and tertiary education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while promoting digital literacy, vocational training, leadership development and life skills.

The ministry also pledged to strengthen protection against gender-based violence and ensure that girls’ perspectives were reflected in decisions affecting their education and future.

Addressing schoolgirls at the event, Folake urged them to believe in their abilities, pursue their ambitions and recognise the importance of their voices.

“You are powerful. You are valuable. You are not a burden. You are a blessing. Your dreams are valid. Your voice matters, and your future is bright,” she said.

Earlier, the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, described the International Day of the Girl Child as a call to action rather than a symbolic celebration.

He said girls were potential scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, peacemakers and future leaders whose contributions were essential to national development.

Ibrahim called on stakeholders to eliminate gender discrimination, early and forced marriage, sexual harassment and other practices that prevent girls from remaining in school and achieving their ambitions.

He also urged teachers to mentor girls facing educational difficulties and encouraged students to build confidence, take their education seriously and aspire to leadership positions across different sectors.

The 2026 celebration, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead,” brought together government officials, development partners, education stakeholders and schoolgirls to discuss ways of advancing girls’ rights and educational opportunities.

The stakeholders called for practical interventions to ensure that girls were safe, educated and empowered, stressing that Nigeria’s ambition for inclusive development would remain difficult to achieve without equal opportunities for girls to learn, acquire skills and participate fully in society.