Girls Education Summit

Panelists at the Inaugural Girls Education Summit.
Image by Shades of Us

By Cynthia Umeh

On November 21, 2024, we had the honor of attending the Girls Education Summit 2024 (GES'24), hosted by the Girls Education Access Initiative (GEAI), in partnership with NGYouthSDGs, and in collaboration with The Stand With A Girl Initiative (SWAG), Tabitha Empowerment Centre (TEC), and Shades of Us. The theme of the summit was ‘Championing the Rights of Young Women and Girls to Quality Education in Policy and Practice’, a timely discussion given the significant barriers girls face in accessing education across Nigeria.

Summit Highlights

The event kicked off at 9:00 AM with registration, followed by the National Pledge and recognition of dignitaries and partners. The opening remarks were delivered by Kemi Gbadamosi-Braimah, Founder of GEAI, and Joshua Alade, Executive Director of YouthSDGs Network. They emphasized the need for collective action to address the educational challenges girls face and the importance of bridging the gap between policy and practice.

In the goodwill message delivered by James Donoghue, the First Secretary of the British Council in Nigeria, he emphasized that without education, we cannot achieve the sustainable development goal 4: quality education. “Educating a girl is not just the right thing to do: it is the smart thing. It reduces multidimensional poverty, early marriage, and childbirth.”

The first panel discussion, ‘Girls' Right to Quality Education: Bridging Policy and Practice in Nigeria’, focused on the role of policies in improving girls’ access to education, followed by a Q&A session inviting attendees to engage with the panel.

The summit also included a Fireside Chat, where education support beneficiaries shared their experiences. Matilda Daniel (GEAI Education Support) and Chidinma Edeani (TEC Education Support) shared their personal journeys, illustrating the transformative power of education for girls.

Later, the second-panel discussion, ‘Unpacking Barriers to Girls’ Education and Strategic Recommendations for Improvement in Nigeria’, explored the systemic challenges such as poverty, gender-based violence, and early marriage that prevent many girls from completing their education. Steve Aborisade from AHF Nigeria and Gladys Emmanuel from Tabitha Empowerment Centre were among the speakers, offering solutions and strategies to address these barriers.

At Shades of Us, we believe in amplifying diverse voices and addressing the root causes of social, economic, and political issues, particularly those that impact vulnerable communities. Our collaboration with GEAI for GES'24 was driven by our shared commitment to empowering young women and girls, ensuring they have access to education, and advocating for their rights. As we promote inclusivity and equality, this partnership aligns with our mission to foster environments where every girl, regardless of her background, can thrive through education.

Key Takeaways from the Summit

1. Policy-Driven Change is Essential: Bridging the gap between policy and practice is critical to ensuring girls have access to quality education. Government and non-government organizations must work together to ensure policies are created and effectively implemented at the grassroots level.

2. Breaking Barriers: Barriers to girls' education, such as early marriage, gender-based violence, and poverty, must be addressed holistically. Ensuring that girls stay in school requires a concerted effort to tackle these issues at the community level.

3. The Power of Education: Education is not just transformative for individual girls; it has the power to uplift entire communities. Educated girls are more likely to break the cycle of poverty, marry later, and contribute positively to society.

4. Collaboration is Key: No single organization or group can solve the challenges facing girls’ education alone. Partnerships and collaborations, like the one demonstrated at GES'24, are essential to creating lasting change.

The Girls Education Summit 2024 was a pivotal moment in the fight for girls' education in Nigeria. By fostering meaningful discussions and building partnerships, it provided a platform for action that we hope will continue to impact policy and practice for years to come. We are proud to have been a part of this crucial event and remain committed to advocating for the rights of girls to access education and live without barriers.

Images by Shades of Us