Education Access

The barrier

Free schooling is rarely free. Families still pay for uniforms, books, exam fees, transport and, for girls, sanitary pads. When money is tight, a girl's schooling is often the first thing a family cuts.

The numbers are large. UNICEF estimates that about 7.6 million Nigerian girls are out of school. Child marriage accounts for between 15 and 20 per cent of secondary school dropouts. Periods add a hidden cost: a pack of pads now sells for about ₦1,800 to ₦3,000.

What we have done

We set up Sponsor A Girl (S.A.G) to help girls in primary and secondary school, and girls who had never had the chance to enrol, with the costs of their education: fees, uniforms, school supplies and books, alongside mentoring.

During our school outreaches in Abuja we also shared learning materials, such as GCCAI exercise books, with students.

What comes next

We are redesigning Sponsor A Girl for 2026. The new version will:

• target a specific group of girls and a specific point where they drop out, rather than "girls" in general
• cover the real costs that keep a girl out of class, including menstrual products where they matter
• pair money with a mentor, so support is more than a payment
• track attendance, progression and completion, so we know whether it works

How you can help

• Fund school costs. Email us to learn how sponsorship will work and how we will report back.
• Connect us to schools in Nasarawa and the FCT that want to work with us.
• Volunteer to help design and run the programme.