The Malala Fund (MF) has announced a $50 million global investment to dismantle the systemic barriers preventing girls from accessing quality education, with a significant portion earmarked for Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Nankwat Dakum, the Fund’s spokeswoman in Nigeria, through a statement released on Tuesday. She explained that the funding is part of MF’s new five-year strategy, Strengthening Rights and Securing Resources for Girls’ Secondary Education.
“This strategy will support local groups, advocate for better education funding, and help girls complete 12 years of education — especially those affected by early marriage,” Dakum said.
She disclosed that Nigeria, which remains one of the countries with the highest number of out-of-school girls, would benefit substantially from the new investment. Over the past decade, the Malala Fund has empowered 21.8 million girls and invested over $56 million globally.
Dakum noted that more than five million Nigerian girls are still out of school, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions. She highlighted early marriage, poverty, gender-based violence, and insecurity as key challenges, compounded by chronic underinvestment in education.
“Malala Fund’s strategy will address these issues,” she stated. “We support women-led organisations, demand fair education policies, and hold leaders accountable for education funding. Our efforts will prioritise Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, and Oyo states while also engaging the federal level to push for electoral reforms.”
Also speaking on the initiative, MF’s Nigeria Country Director, Nabila Aguele, commended Nigerian girls for courageously demanding their right to education amid difficult circumstances.
“We are witnessing adolescent girls in Nigeria demand education despite overwhelming odds,” she said. “This strategy represents our promise to support them. Advancing girls’ education demands swift policy reforms and local engagement.”
In a show of commitment, MF co-founder Ziauddin Yousafzai recently visited Nigeria, where he met with traditional and religious leaders as well as civil society organisations. The visit was aimed at mobilising male allies — including boys and men — to support girls’ rights to education and reinforce the Fund’s 2020–2025 strategic plan.
Co-founded in 2013 by Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and Ziauddin Yousafzai, the Malala Fund champions 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for every girl, everywhere.
