Osun NAWOJ Calls for Bigger Investment in Girls’ Education, Health and Protection

On International Day of the Girl Child 2026, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Osun State Chapter issued a powerful statement demanding increased girls education investment alongside better health and protection services for the girl child. The call, directed at government officials, traditional institutions, parents and civil‑society partners, highlights persistent gaps that threaten the future of millions of African girls.

Why the push for greater girls education investment now?

Despite progress since the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, Nigeria still records a gender gap in school enrolment, especially in the northern zones where cultural norms and poverty limit girls’ access to quality education. In 2025, UNESCO reported that only 62% of Nigerian girls completed lower secondary school, compared with 78% of boys. The NAWOJ statement points out that without targeted girls education investment, these disparities will widen, undermining economic growth and social stability across West Africa.

Osun State, though relatively better off, mirrors national trends. Rural districts report high dropout rates during the transition from primary to secondary school, often because families cannot afford school fees, uniforms or sanitary products. The association argues that strategic funding—covering scholarships, school infrastructure and gender‑sensitive curricula—will keep girls in school and improve learning outcomes.

Health: The missing link in the education‑protection continuum

Education cannot thrive in isolation from health. The NAWOJ highlights that adolescent girls in Nigeria face high rates of menstrual‑related absenteeism, malnutrition and reproductive‑health challenges. A 2024 study by the Federal Ministry of Health showed that 48% of girls aged 12‑18 missed school at least once a month due to lack of sanitary pads.

Investing in school‑based health services—such as free distribution of menstrual hygiene kits, nutrition programmes and adolescent‑friendly clinics—will directly boost attendance and performance. The association urges the Osun State Ministry of Health to partner with NGOs and the private sector to scale up these interventions, noting successful pilots in Lagos and Accra that reduced dropout rates by 15% within a year.

Protection: Safeguarding girls from violence and exploitation

Protection is the third pillar of NAWOJ’s demand. Child marriage, gender‑based violence and trafficking remain pressing threats. In 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics recorded that 22% of Nigerian girls aged 15‑19 were married before turning 18, a figure that spikes in certain rural communities.

NAWOJ calls for stricter enforcement of existing laws, community sensitisation campaigns and the establishment of safe‑spaces in schools where girls can report abuse without fear. Traditional rulers, who wield considerable influence, are urged to champion protective norms and reject practices that endanger girls.

Stakeholder responsibilities: From policy to practice

The statement outlines clear responsibilities for each stakeholder:

• Government: Allocate dedicated budget lines for girls education, health kits and protection programmes; integrate gender‑responsive indicators into the State Education Strategic Plan.
• Traditional institutions: Use cultural platforms to promote the value of educating girls and condemn early marriage.
• Parents: Prioritise girls’ schooling, seek community support for health supplies and report any form of abuse.
• Civil society and private sector: Offer scholarships, mentorship schemes and sponsor health outreach in underserved areas.

By aligning these actions, Osun can become a model for other Nigerian states and African nations striving to close the gender gap.

Regional implications: A blueprint for Africa

The challenges faced in Osun echo those across the continent. Ghana’s “Girl Child Education Programme” launched in 2023, Kenya’s “Free Sanitary Pad Initiative” in 2024, and South Africa’s “Safe Schools Project” in 2025 all demonstrate that coordinated investment yields measurable gains. NAWOJ’s appeal therefore resonates beyond Nigeria, offering a template for policymakers in Tanzania, Ethiopia and beyond.

For instance, the East African Community (EAC) is drafting a 2027 regional framework on girls’ education and health. Osun’s experience could inform that agenda, especially in designing community‑driven protection mechanisms that respect local customs while upholding girls’ rights.

Practical examples of successful interventions

Example 1 – Scholarship hub in Ilesa: In 2024, a coalition of local banks and NGOs established a scholarship hub that awarded 200 merit‑based scholarships to girls from low‑income families. Within two years, retention rates rose from 68% to 92% and exam pass rates improved by 18 percentage points.

Example 2 – Menstrual hygiene kit distribution in Irepodun: A pilot programme partnered with a Nigerian fintech startup to deliver reusable sanitary pads through mobile money vouchers. Attendance data showed a 12% reduction in monthly absenteeism among beneficiaries.

Example 3 – Safe‑space clubs in Osogbo secondary schools: Trained teachers facilitated weekly clubs where girls could discuss gender‑based violence, receive counselling and learn self‑defence. Over 1,500 students participated in the first year, and reported incidents of harassment dropped by 9%.

Monitoring and accountability mechanisms

NAWOJ stresses that any increase in girls education investment must be accompanied by robust monitoring. The association proposes an annual “Girl Child Progress Report” compiled by an independent panel of educators, health workers and gender experts. This report would track enrolment, attendance, health outcomes and incidents of violence, providing data for policy adjustments.

Transparency is key. The panel should publish findings on accessible platforms, allowing citizens, journalists and donors to hold officials accountable. In the digital age, mobile dashboards and community radio bulletins can disseminate the data widely, fostering a culture of collective responsibility.

Financing the agenda: Leveraging public and private resources

To achieve the scale required, NAWOJ recommends a blended financing model:

• Public allocation: At least 15% of the state education budget earmarked for gender‑responsive programmes.
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR): Incentivise companies to fund school infrastructure and health kits through tax rebates.
• International donors: Align with the 2026 UN Girls’ Education Fund to secure grant support for curriculum development.
• Community contributions: Mobilise parent‑teacher associations to raise modest funds for local safety committees.

This multi‑track approach reduces reliance on a single source and ensures sustainability.

Looking ahead: A roadmap for 2027‑2030

NAWOJ outlines a three‑phase roadmap:

1. 2026‑2027 – Foundation building: Finalise budget lines, launch pilot health kits and establish monitoring panel.
2. 2028 – Scale‑up: Expand successful pilots to all rural districts, introduce gender‑responsive teacher training, and roll out nationwide safe‑space clubs.
3. 2029‑2030 – Evaluation and refinement: Conduct impact assessments, adjust policies based on data, and publish a comprehensive “Girls’ Advancement Index” for Osun.

Achieving these milestones will position Osun as a benchmark for sub‑Saharan states seeking to close the gender gap.

Conclusion: Turning words into action

The NAWOJ Osun Chapter’s demand is more than a statement—it is a roadmap for sustainable development. By channeling resources into girls education, health and protection, Nigeria can unlock the potential of half its population, driving economic growth and social cohesion. The call to action is clear: invest now, collaborate across sectors, and monitor progress diligently. The future of the girl child—and indeed the continent—depends on the decisions made today.

FAQ

1. What specific measures does NAWOJ recommend for increasing girls education investment? The association calls for scholarships, school infrastructure upgrades, gender‑responsive curricula, free provision of sanitary products and the creation of monitoring dashboards.
2. How can parents contribute to protecting the girl child? Parents can prioritise girls’ schooling, engage in community sensitisation, ensure girls have access to menstrual supplies, and report any form of abuse to school authorities or local leaders.
3. Where can I find more information about the NAWOJ statement? The full statement is available on the Daily Post website: NAWOJ demands greater investment.
4. What role can the private sector play in this agenda? Companies can fund scholarships, sponsor health‑kit distribution, provide technical expertise for digital monitoring tools, and receive tax incentives for CSR contributions.
5. How will progress be measured? Through the annual Girl Child Progress Report, which tracks enrolment, attendance, health outcomes, and incidents of violence, and publishes data on public dashboards and community radio.

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