Girl-Child development in Nigeria: An assessment of systemic challenges and opportunities

Abstract

This policy brief argues that most of the factors hampering the development of the girl-child in Nigeria are institutionalized and require a systematic approach to tackling them. Factors such as poverty, cultural and religious doctrines, biased and negative attitude of parents towards education and gender roles, early marriage, street hawking, insecurities and dearth of policies and programs that lend a supportive environment for the development of the girl-child are some of the obvious, but largely ignored challenges. Institutionalized persuasive gender ideologies both at the household and community levels tend to skew differential mental, intellectual, social, political and economic development opportunities and outcomes in favor of the boy-child. This brief highlights the following legislative intervention and policy options to help address some of the challenges to the development of girl-child in Nigeria: 1. Community based sensitization and human capacity development through NGOs and CSOs targeting the girl-child should be prioritized by the government; 2. Government should initiate programs and policies like provincial and territorial child protection legislation/policy that guarantees socially safe and supportive educational environment that is devoid of abuse and discrimination of the girl-child;