Through the Education Champions Network (ECN), YouthHubAfrica, with support from the Malala Fund, is strengthening the movement to secure every girl’s right to education in Nigeria. The initiative focuses on increasing girls’ enrolment and completion of secondary school by driving policy reform, advocating for increased and equitable education financing, and promoting accountability and transparency within the education system.

A core component of the project was the Girls’ Education Advocacy Training for secondary school girls. The training equipped the girls with practical advocacy skills in communication, storytelling, problem analysis, and civic engagement. Through the programme, these girls deepen their understanding of the systemic barriers limiting access to education, build confidence, sharpen their public speaking skills, and develop realistic, community-driven solutions to local education challenges. They also define personal advocacy goals and learned how to effectively engage policymakers and other decision-makers.

Beyond individual capacity building, ECN is advancing long-term systemic change. Key objectives include advocating for a 10% increase in education budgets at both the national level and in Kaduna State over a two-year period, as well as strengthening existing education policies to be more gender-responsive and inclusive. By fostering peer collaboration and building a strong network of empowered young advocates, ECN is laying the foundation for sustainable action—ensuring that every girl not only gains access to secondary education but is supported to complete it.