…Celebrates International Day of the Girl Child

As of October 2022, there were 20 million out-of-school Nigerian children and 60 percent of these children are girls.

In a report released by UNICEF in 2022, the out-of-school rate for primary-level education was at 25.6 per cent in 2021 with 67 per cent of girls and 69 per cent of boys completing lower secondary education.

Another report by the World Bank shows that only one out of
four girls from poor, rural families complete Junior Secondary school education.

This illustrates inequities in the education of girls and the International Day of the Girl Child which is celebrated on the 11th of October is an opportunity to call on parents, educators, private institutions and policymakers to take steps towards empowering the girl child and ensuring equity between genders.

“October 11th is set aside every year to spotlight the rights and unique challenges that girls around the world face, and this year’s theme – ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being’ resonates very deeply with Bridge’s mission and values especially as it concerns issues around digital and life-skills training.

“Bridge International Academies recognizes that education is the key to unlocking the potential of every child, regardless of gender,” Foyinsola Akinjayeju, the Managing Director of Bridge Nigeria noted.

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“Every time we deprive a ‘girl-child’ of her rights, we stifle potential, we dim a prospect, we short-change our world and for us at Bridge, we are aligned with the SDG4 to provide inclusive and equitable education for every child,” Foyinsola added.

Bridge schools are places of equal opportunity and equal learning benefits for all children.
Reports and independent studies have consistently shown that girls in Bridge Schools perform exceptionally well, on par with their male counterparts.

During the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination in Nigeria, numerous female Bridge pupils emerged as top performers during the National Common Entrance Examinations in Nigeria.

These achievements have earned them scholarships and admissions into some of the country’s top secondary schools, further highlighting the quality of education and equity in opportunities provided by Bridge.

Omotola Francis-Akinlolu, The Schools’ Director, Bridge Nigeria added: “Bridge International Academies actively engages with communities to promote the importance of girls’ education.

Through initiatives like parent-teacher associations and community meetings, we encourage parents and caregivers to support their daughters’ education and break down traditional barriers. Bridge’s curriculum is also designed to be gender-responsive, addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by girls. We aim to empower our female students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the 21st century.”

On this International Day of the Girl Child, Bridge International Academies renews its commitment to providing girls with the tools they need to become leaders, change-makers, and contributors to their communities and society at large. We firmly believe that investing in girls’ education is not only a matter of their rights but also a key driver of progress and development for Nigeria.

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Bridge International Academies is a network of community schools providing access to quality, affordable education to underserved communities in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and India.
Bridge Nigeria opened its first school in 2015 and has since then delivered life-changing education to pupils in underserved communities through 46 schools presently operating in Lagos and Osun States.

Bridge leverages technology to deliver quality education; efficient monitoring and evaluation programs for teachers and efficient monitoring and evaluation of pupil performance.
Bridge Nigeria knows when teachers are in classrooms and when lessons are delivering results.