THE IMPACT OF GIRL CHILD EDUCATION ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA AND BEYOND

Abstract

The educational marginalization of girls represents one of the most significant barriers to sustainable development in Nigeria. This paper proposes a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy to dismantle the systemic obstacles preventing girls from accessing and completing quality education. The framework is built on five critical pillars: the rigorous enforcement of existing legal and policy instruments; the strategic deployment of economic interventions like cash transfers to alleviate poverty-driven exclusion; sustained community mobilization to shift deep-seated cultural norms; significant investment in safe, girl-friendly school infrastructure; and a fundamental overhaul of educational quality to ensure relevance. This integrated approach moves beyond isolated solutions, advocating instead for a coordinated national effort that addresses the root causes of the crisis. The successful implementation of this holistic strategy is imperative not only for achieving gender parity in education but for unlocking the vast human potential necessary to drive Nigeria's future economic prosperity, social stability, and overall development.