Nigeria has secured a $2.95 million grant from the Malala Fund to support initiatives aimed at strengthening girls’ rights, improving education financing and increasing access to and completion of secondary education.
The funding was disclosed in the Malala Fund’s 2025-2026 Annual Report, which highlighted efforts by the organisation and its partners to influence policies and strengthen systems that address barriers preventing girls from remaining in school.
According to the report, the Nigerian grant is being channelled to organisations working directly with girls and communities to remove obstacles to education and create better opportunities for girls to enrol in and complete secondary school.
The Malala Fund said it awarded $9.8 million in grants globally during the year and, alongside its partners, contributed to six significant policy and implementation changes across Nigeria and Pakistan.
The organisation noted that more than 122 million girls are currently out of school worldwide, with conflict, displacement, child marriage, early motherhood, poverty and inadequate educational infrastructure among the major barriers.
In Nigeria and Tanzania, the report identified child marriage and early motherhood as significant factors contributing to girls dropping out of school. Other countries face challenges including restrictions on girls’ education, shortages of female teachers and the rising cost of schooling.
The Malala Fund stressed that policy commitments and global pledges alone would not be sufficient to address the barriers facing girls, noting that civil society organisations rooted in local communities play a critical role in turning commitments into practical and funded interventions.
It said such organisations help generate evidence, challenge harmful social norms, build coalitions and hold governments accountable for implementing education commitments.
The report further revealed that 66 per cent of funding under the organisation’s Education Champion Network went to organisations led by young women during the year.
Highlighting the broader economic importance of girls’ education, the Malala Fund estimated that failure to ensure girls complete secondary education could cost the global economy between $15 trillion and $30 trillion in lost productivity and earnings.
It added that girls’ education has far-reaching implications for economic growth, labour force participation, financial inclusion and health outcomes across generations.
The organisation also highlighted its five-year strategy, launched last year, which focuses on working with local advocates, civil society coalitions and governments to influence policies, financing and systems that determine whether girls are able to complete their education.
The Malala Fund said it would deepen and accelerate its efforts to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to learn and make informed choices about her future.
Download our Mobile App for easy access
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvmobile.ng&hl=en
Mobile App Lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvng.lite
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edutvmobile.ng&hl=en
Follow us on Youtube
https://youtube.com/@edutvnigeria
Follow us on LinkedIn -
https://ng.linkedin.com/company/edutvnigeria
Follow us on Instagram
https://instagram.com/edutvnigeria
Follow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/edutvnigeria
