Challenges That Limit Educational Opportunities for Girls in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria: Need for Social Work Intervention

Nigeria is a diverse and culturally rich country that is still confronted with complicated issues that limit educational opportunities for girls. Family decisions, economic activities, and cultural belief still exclude girls from accessing educational opportunities. Using a qualitative research design, we selected five social workers working with civil society organisations and five programme officers working in the social development sector. We collected data through an in-depth interview and thematically analysed the findings. Gender bias, informal foster care arrangements, and child marriage, amongst others, were found to be challenges that exclude girls from educational opportunities and thus violate their fundamental human right. The study therefore recommends that social workers play a significant role in designing gender-responsive programmes that address the unique needs and challenges faced by girls. Social workers’ involvement in gender-responsive programming will promote inclusivity. Further study on gender-responsive policies in different geo-political regions of Nigeria is recommended.