The Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network (ECN) has intensified calls for the Kano State Government to allocate at least 15 per cent of its capital education budget to girl-child education, warning that current funding levels are too low to deliver meaningful change.

At a stakeholders’ engagement on girl-child education financing held in Kano, ECN representatives stressed that less than five per cent has been committed to capital expenditure for girls’ education since 2023, a gap they say continues to limit access, safety, and quality of learning for thousands of girls across the state.

Speaking at the event, ECN Project Policy and Research Analyst, Ibukunolu James, said improving girls’ education goes beyond policy declarations and requires deliberate investment in infrastructure and implementation. She noted that increasing funding would support the provision of classrooms, safe learning spaces, and essential sanitary facilities—factors critical to keeping girls in school.

James also emphasized the importance of recruiting more female teachers, describing them as key to improving enrolment and retention, especially in communities where cultural sensitivities influence parents’ decisions about sending girls to school.

She explained that the ECN project, implemented in partnership with BudgIT under the Malala Fund, is actively engaging policymakers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to push for reforms that prioritize girls’ education. According to her, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between budget allocation and actual implementation, ensuring that funds translate into visible improvements in schools.

“We are working to ensure that every girl who is willing to attend school has the opportunity to do so in a safe and supportive environment,” James said, adding that community awareness is crucial because many decision-makers may not fully grasp the extent of underfunding in the sector.

The advocacy effort will extend beyond the engagement, with plans to hold town hall meetings, collaborate with School-Based Management Committees, and deepen consultations across the education sector to sustain momentum.

Also speaking, Head of Research and Policy Advisory, Adejoke Akinbode, highlighted that the ECN project is currently active in several states, including Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, Oyo, and Kano. She said the initiative tracks how education budgets are allocated and spent, while promoting gender-responsive financing and pushing for laws that strengthen access to education for girls.

Akinbode noted that the project also seeks to dismantle barriers preventing girls from attending school, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas, where challenges such as poverty, early marriage, and teenage pregnancy remain widespread.

Participants at the meeting, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and senior government officials, expressed unanimous support for the initiative, pledging to champion policies and actions that will expand access to quality education for girls in Kano State.

The renewed push signals growing pressure on the government to not only increase funding but ensure that investments translate into safer schools, better facilities, and real opportunities for girls to learn and thrive.