Choose to Challenge – 6,042 Women and Girls get a Second Chance at Education in Nigeria

Safinatu Ibrahim, dropped out of school in 2004 when she was just in primary five, her parents could no longer afford to keep her in school. She began to accompany her mom to her restaurant, where she helped to serve customers — mostly men who would often gawk and make passes at her. In 2020, she learnt about the accelerated second chance education through her neighbor and enrolled. On graduation, the 20-year-old remarks, “my dream is to go back to school”. Cases like Safinatus’ abound; see Aisha, for instance.

Aisha Adaba, 25years, never had a chance to go to school. Her parents were poor and could not afford it. At the age of 18, they married her off. To cater for her 2 children, she hawked roasted fish around her community. This made her vulnerable to verbal assault from men who were her major customers. One day, she narrowly escaped rape at the hands of one of her customers, and this sparked fear, making it difficult for her to continue her trade. That was when she learned about the Spotlight Initiative supported learning center and got enrolled. The diligent Aisha never missed a single class, “this is my second chance”. Aisha is taking steps towards education as she can now read and write.

Aisha and Safinatu are just 2 out of the 10.5 million children out of school in Nigeria according to a UNICEF report on education[1]. When girls are out of school, it increases their vulnerability to early marriage and other forms of violence against women and girls and other harmful practices. Girls must stay in school.