Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has arrived in Nigeria to advocate for girls’ education, with a strong focus on issues such as ensuring married and pregnant girls can return to school, boosting education financing, and positioning education as a policy solution to end child marriage.
Malala is in the country for the September 2025 Malala Fund Board of Directors meeting, accompanied by Malala Fund CEO Lena Alfi, board members, and her father and co-founder, Ziauddin Yousafzai. Together, they aim to advance key priorities in Nigeria’s education sector.
During her stay in Abuja, Malala will meet with young girls and education champions supported by the Malala Fund to hear firsthand about their experiences and the changes they want within their communities. She is also scheduled to engage with government officials and civil society leaders to help accelerate progress for girls’ education across the country.
Nigeria remains a priority country in the Malala Fund’s global strategy (2025–2030). Since 2014, the organization has invested more than $8 million in Nigerian partner organizations working to eliminate barriers preventing girls from accessing education.
Malala’s visit comes at a crucial time as the Nigerian government, civil society, and international partners work toward strengthening commitments to ensure every girl in Nigeria has the opportunity to access and complete 12 years of quality education.
