Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has arrived in Nigeria for a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Malala Fund, a organization focused on advancing girls’ education globally. The visit aims to propel the fund’s priorities in the country, particularly in ensuring access to education for marginalized groups.
According to Nankwat Dakum, the fund’s Communication Manager in Nigeria, Malala will be joined by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and the fund’s CEO, Lena Alfi, as well as other board members. The key priorities to be addressed include allowing married and pregnant girls to return to school, increasing education financing, and utilizing education as a means to end child marriage. Malala will also engage with young girls and education advocates supported by the fund to understand their experiences and the changes they wish to see in their communities.
During her visit, Malala is scheduled to meet with key government officials and civil society leaders to accelerate progress in girls’ education across Nigeria. The country is a priority in the Malala Fund’s global strategy for 2025-2030. Since 2014, the fund has invested over $8 million in Nigerian partner organizations working to break down barriers to girls’ education. Malala’s return to Nigeria is timely, as the government, civil society, and international partners seek to strengthen their commitments to ensuring every girl in Nigeria can access and complete 12 years of education.
Nigeria’s significance in the Malala Fund’s strategy is underscored by the country’s challenges in providing equal access to education for girls. The fund’s efforts aim to address these challenges and create a more equitable education system. With Malala’s visit, attention is drawn to the importance of education in empowering girls and women, and the need for collective action to achieve this goal. As Nigeria and its partners work towards strengthening education systems, Malala’s advocacy is expected to play a crucial role in driving progress and ensuring that every girl in the country has the opportunity to realize her full potential.
