IWD 2026: NIEPA Champions Educational Equity for the Nigerian Girl-Child

ONDO — As the global community marks the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) today, the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) Ondo,  has reaffirmed its commitment to securing the educational future of women and girls across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

Aligning with the 2026 United Nations theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the Institute emphasized the urgent need to dismantle the cultural and systemic barriers—such as poverty and early marriage—that continue to keep millions of girls out of school, particularly in rural communities.

For NIEPA, driving educational equity goes beyond classroom instruction; it begins at the level of policy and administration. Bridging the eras of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Institute has consistently partnered with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs), Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and other MDAs to facilitate girl-child education capacity development programmes.

By strategically developing the capacity of the educational planners, administrators, and managers who govern the school systems, NIEPA ensures that gender-responsive practices are embedded directly into the structural foundation of the education sector.

The localized benefits of these targeted interventions have yielded clear results. Impact assessments by the training and research fellows show a marked improvement in female enrollment and retention rates in targeted zones. Empowered with the right strategic tools, education managers are now better positioned to provide marginalized girls with the support needed to transition successfully from basic to senior secondary education.

This strategic vision has seen aggressive expansion under the current administration of the Acting Director-General, Dr. David Shofoyeke. A prominent highlight of this commitment was the Institute’s 2024 partnership with the Malala Fund and the DRPC on the Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP) model. That initiative focused heavily on aligning state education sector plans to eliminate the hurdles preventing girls from accessing safe, quality schooling.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Dr. Shofoyeke noted that prioritizing female education remains a critical pillar for national development.

“Empowering a woman is the most proven way to build a strong nation,” Dr. Shofoyeke stated. He further reiterated NIEPA’s dedication to equipping the sector’s managers with the tools required to design an inclusive education system where every Nigerian girl is given the platform she needs to lead.

As the world celebrates the resilience and impact of women today, NIEPA continues to call on stakeholders and development partners to translate advocacy into concrete action for the girl-child.

By Bodunde Tenabe
Head of Media/ Public Relations, NIEPA Ondo