Education

Obtaining education is more than a basic human right. It’s critical for expanding job and income prospects. Education is essential because it is a form of human capital investment.

According to the United Nations, 42% of African students would drop out before completing basic school.

UNICEF statistics on Education in Nigeria in February 2018: “Nigeria’s population growth has put pressure on the country’s resources, public services, and infrastructure”.With children under 15 years of age accounting for 45% of the 171 million population, the burden on education has become overwhelming.

Primary school enrollment has increased in recent years, but net attendance is only about 70%, Nigeria still has 10.5 million out-of-school children—the world’s highest number. 60% of those children are in northern Nigeria. About 60% of out-of-school children are girls. Many of those who do enrol drop out early. Low perceptions of the value of education for girls and early marriages are among the reasons.

Some northern states have laws requiring the education of girls and prohibiting their withdrawal from school. Girls’ primary school attendance has been improving, but this has not been the case for girls from the poorest households.

At Bestbuddy Scholarship Foundation, we help to deliver educational support for some of Africa’s most vulnerable children.