AHIP Seeks More Investment In Girl-Child Education

A non-governmental organisation, Adolescent Health and Information Projects (AHIP), has called on governments and development partners to increase investment in girls’ education, healthcare and protection against child marriage, gender-based violence and other harmful practices.

The Executive Director of AHIP, Dr Mairo V. Bello, made the call in a statement issued in Kano to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.

Bello said greater investment in girls was essential to sustainable development, urging governments, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that every girl had access to quality education, healthcare, protection and equal opportunities.

She expressed concern that many girls in Nigeria, particularly those in underserved communities, continued to face challenges, including forced marriage, sexual exploitation, school dropout and limited access to sexual and reproductive health information and services.

According to her, these challenges undermine girls’ rights, expose them to preventable risks and limit their opportunities to fulfil their potential.
“Every girl deserves access to quality education, reliable adolescent health information, adequate healthcare, protection from violence and opportunities to participate in decisions affecting her life,” she said.

The AHIP executive director stressed that no girl should be forced to abandon her education or aspirations because of poverty, discrimination, insecurity or harmful traditional practices.

She urged governments at all levels to strengthen policies and programmes that promote girls’ education, improve access to adolescent-friendly healthcare services and prevent child marriage and gender-based violence.

Bello also called on parents, guardians, traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful stereotypes, support girls’ ambitions, and provide safe environments where they could acquire life skills and develop their leadership potential.

She further urged development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to increase funding for programmes that equip girls with relevant knowledge, skills and resources.

While reaffirming AHIP’s commitment to advancing adolescent girls’ rights and well-being through advocacy, community engagement, access to information and empowerment programmes, the organisation called on stakeholders to translate commitments into concrete actions that would enable every girl to learn, grow, participate in society and succeed.