In Gabari village, Kufena, Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, young Halira Nuhu (not her real name) hawks “Fura da Nono,” a meal made from cow milk and millet, during school hours.
Nuhu dreams of becoming a doctor, but her circumstances may not allow her to achieve that dream.
In her village, boys’ education is prioritized, while girls are sent to hawk or married off early. At 12, Nuhu was given out in marriage to her cousin—reflecting the reality of many girls in her community.
“I was married off at the age of 12. I’m now 15 and have one son. In my tradition, parents choose spouses for their children, and girls’ education is not prioritized—we go hawking.
“I attended only primary school and stopped because my father was not financially stable. So, my mother said I should hawk before a suitable spouse was chosen for me,” she said.
Another Story, Same Fate
Similarly, Saude Maude (not her real name), a resident of Hanwa, Zaria, got married at the age of 13.
As an orphan who lost her father as a baby, Maude could not finish secondary school due to poverty.
“It was my mother who took care of me, and she couldn’t pay my school fees after JSS3. So, when I got a suitor, I was married off. I was devastated, but there was nothing I could do,” she lamented.
Alarming Numbers
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 7.6 million girls in Nigeria are out of school—3.9 million at the primary level and 3.7 million in junior secondary school.
UNICEF further reports that more than half of girls of basic education age are not enrolled. Evidence also indicates significant dropout rates between primary and junior secondary levels.
Experts attribute this trend to factors such as poverty, early marriage, unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, limited awareness, and inadequate parental support.
These challenges continue to restrict girls’ access to education and contribute to high dropout rates, especially during the transition from primary to secondary school.
A report by Save the Children states that 78 per cent of girls in northern Nigeria are married before the age of 18, while 44 per cent are married before 18 nationwide.
In Kaduna State, the School Census Report revealed that 25 per cent of adolescent girls drop out due to early marriage, insecurity, poverty, and related factors.
Policy Response
In response, the Kaduna State Government introduced an Education Policy in 2019, which includes provisions for Second Chance Education (SCE).
The state also developed a 10-year Education Sector Plan (2019–2029), a strategic framework to guide education policy, implementation, and evaluation with support from development partners.
The Director of Planning at the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Salisu Lawal, said SCE is being implemented with support from partners such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) for girls who dropped out due to marriage or pregnancy.
Recently, the state validated its Gender in Education Policy to address structural barriers such as safety, access, and retention that disproportionately affect girls.
The policy targets the specific needs of learners across age groups and communities, focusing on practical ways to improve education delivery.
Support for Girls
Second Chance Education supports adolescent married girls and young mothers with learning materials, uniforms, and conditional cash transfers to encourage continued schooling.
Zainab Maina-Lukat, Technical Assistant on Education Systems Strengthening for the AGILE project, said the policy aims to address inequalities within the education sector.
She noted that it proposes solutions such as early childhood care centres within schools to help young mothers and female teachers continue their education or careers.
The policy also highlights disparities in academic progression, particularly in science education. While about half of girls in private schools transition into science streams, the figure is much lower in public schools.
Back to School
Despite these challenges, marriage and motherhood did not stop Nuhu and Maude from pursuing their dreams.
Nuhu has returned to school and is now in JSS1 through the SCE programme supported by AGILE.
Her husband and father consented after a mobilisation officer explained the programme.
“My father is excited that I am going back to school, and my husband supported me with uniforms and learning materials,” she said.
However, balancing married life and education remains difficult.
As a nursing mother, she leaves her 11-month-old baby with her in-laws before going to school.
“Nobody will take care of my baby when I’m in class, and I want to concentrate, so I have to leave him with them,” she said.
Transportation is another challenge, as she treks for 40 minutes daily to school.
Returning to school has given her a renewed sense of responsibility. She regrets marrying early, saying she was not ready at 15.
She now hopes to become an advocate for the girl child, encouraging girls to complete at least senior secondary school before marriage.
New Dreams
Maude, now 17 with two children, has also returned to school and is in SS1, aspiring to become a journalist.
She said she is determined to ensure her children receive a better education before marriage.
Call for Reform
Ummi Bukar, Programme Director at Participatory Communication for Gender Development Initiative (PAGED), said extending Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) policy to 12 years would improve access to secondary education, especially for girls.
“Extending the policy to senior secondary education would ensure girls stay in school longer and become more productive members of society.
“It is not enough to create programmes; they must reflect the realities of the target group. Many young mothers cannot return to school due to lack of support systems such as childcare or flexible learning hours,” she said.
She called for stronger enforcement of existing laws, increased investment in education, and more inclusive policies across states.
Conclusion
As married adolescent girls like Nuhu and Maude return to the classroom, providing the necessary support systems will be crucial to help them succeed.
