Effects of insecurity and challenges on females’ education in Nigeria

Abstract

Concerned about the possible adverse effects insecurity and its attendant challenges might have on Nigeria’s goal of enhancing females’ education throughout the country, the paper investigated the effects of insecurity on females’ education in Nigeria. Using secondary data, the paper identified the diverse manifestations of insecurity in different geo-political zones in the country, and established some criteria to select which of the manifestations to study. Boko- Haram insurgences in the Northeastern Nigeria best met the set criteria. The study revealed that Boko Haram, that classified education a ‘forbidden thing’ has tried vigorously to eradicate Western education in the region: hundreds of teachers have been killed; thousands of students have either been killed or wounded; hundreds of schools have been damaged and/ or burnt; hundreds of female students have been kidnapped in their various hostels and on their ways to and from school; female teenage hostages have been turned suicide bombers; parents have been forced to keep their daughters away from schools, majority of which have been forced to close down for more than two years. The paper concluded that females’ education in the region, that ranked least before the insurgences, have been worsened by the insurgences. Strategies were provided to enhance females’ education in the region, to maximize the invaluable contributions of the citizens in this region. .

Keywords: Boko-Haram, Insecurity, Female education, Northeastern Nigeria.