Insecurity and Out of School Children in Nigeria: Girl Child Education in North East, Nigeria

This paper explores the profound impact of insecurity on the education of the girl child in North East Nigeria, a region severely affected by insurgency and conflict. Over the past decade, violent extremism, particularly from Boko Haram, has led to the destruction of schools, mass displacement of people, and heightened fear, all of which have disproportionately affected girls’ access to education. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative data from educational surveys and qualitative insights from interviews conducted with parents, community leaders, and girls in affected communities. The results revealed that insecurity exacerbates pre-existing cultural and socio-economic barriers to girls' education, including early marriage, gender biases, and poverty. Many parents choose to keep their daughters at home due to fear of abduction and attacks on schools, further increasing the already high rates of out-of-school girls. The paper concludes by recommending comprehensive interventions, such as securing schools, empowering communities, and addressing harmful gender norms, to protect and promote education for girls in conflict zones. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions on education, gender inequality, and conflict in Nigeria and call for urgent policy and local action to mitigate the long-term impact on girls. Keywords: Insecurity, Out-of-School Children, Girl Child, Boko Haram, Gender Inequality, North East Nigeria, Education