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UNICEF says 18.5 million children in Nigeria are out of school

The Africanews reported, according to the United Nations children’s fund (UNICEF), in Nigeria, 18.5 million children, are out of school, a figure that has risen since 2001.
Last year, Unicef estimated that 10.5 million children were out of school in Africa's most populous country.
Rahama Farah, head of the UNICEF office in Kano (North), told journalists on Wednesday (May 11): "Currently in Nigeria, there are 18.5 million children out of school, 60% of whom (more than 10 million) are girls."
Farah said, the numerous attacks on schools by jihadists and criminal gangs in the north have particularly harmed children's education.
Farah insisted: "These attacks have created a precarious learning environment, discouraging parents and guardians from sending their children to school."

Since Boko Haram abducted 200 schoolgirls in the northeastern town of Chibok in 2014, dozens of schools have been targeted for similar mass abductions.
Last year, about 1,500 students were kidnapped by gunmen, according to UNICEF. While most of the young hostages have since been released for ransom, some still remain in captivity in forests, havens of armed groups.
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In the predominantly Muslim north, Mr Farah said only one in four girls from "poor, rural families" finish secondary school. Insecurity, he said, "accentuates gender inequalities".
According to UNICEF, violence and mass kidnappings have forced the authorities to close more than 11,000 schools in the country since December 2020.
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The situation has resulted in increasing cases of child marriage and early pregnancy, according to the UN agency.
Source: africanews
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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