The Nigerian girls education project: giving the girl child a voice

The three-year Girls’ Education Project (GEP) aims to improve the quality of life of girls by seeking to increase their enrolment, retention and completion of primary school education. The project is being implemented in six states of Northern Nigeria, under a bilateral agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with funding support from the Department for International Development (DFID). It uses an inter-sectoral approach to provide amongst other things, WASH facilities in the targeted schools. Results in three states include construction of 323 boreholes and 688 blocks of VIP latrines; establishment of WASH school clubs; enhanced partnerships between collaborating ministries, the three tiers of government, public and private sector, communities and schools. Other outcomes include increased enrolment and retention of girls as well as improved self esteem. This paper seeks to share the human impact of the GEP project in three states of Nigeria.