The Malala Fund has pledged $50 million to improve girls’ access to secondary education over five years.
Much of the support targets northern Nigeria, where millions of girls remain out of school.
The Malala Fund has unveiled a bold new strategy aimed at dismantling the barriers that hinder girls’ access to secondary education, committing a total of $50 million over the next five years. A significant share of the fund will be directed towards Nigeria, particularly its northern regions, where the education gap remains most severe.
This initiative was made public in a statement issued by the Fund’s Communications Manager in Nigeria, Nankwat Dakum, on Tuesday in Abuja, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The strategy, named “Strengthening Rights and Securing Resources for Girls’ Secondary Education”, is designed to enhance access to 12 years of free, high-quality education for girls across affected regions.
Dakum highlighted that the new funding will support grassroots organizations, push for increased education financing, and address systemic challenges, including poverty, insecurity, gender-based violence, and child marriage. “This strategy will support local groups, advocate for better education funding, and help girls complete 12 years of education, especially those affected by early marriage,” Dakum noted.
Nigeria is home to more than five million out-of-school girls, with the Northeast and Northwest regions being the most affected. The Fund emphasized that these figures are fueled by ongoing conflict, poor infrastructure, and minimal government investment in education.
In addition to funding, the initiative focuses on strengthening women-led advocacy groups, promoting policies that favor inclusive education, and applying pressure on policymakers to prioritize education in national budgets.
This announcement follows earlier efforts by the Malala Fund, which in 2024 invested $7.8 million in Nigeria to bolster girl-child education. The new $50 million pledge expands that commitment, underlining the Fund’s long-term goal of ensuring that every girl completes a full cycle of schooling.
By focusing on local empowerment and policy reform, the Fund aims to create sustainable educational pathways for girls, who are often the most marginalized in their communities.
