AN EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT OF GIRL-CHILD TO EDUCATION UNDER NIGERIAN LAW AND POLICY

Absence of discrimination on education for both girls and boys ultimately contributes to more equal relationships between women and men in terms of developing the country. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights which was adopted in 1948 provides for access to education as a fundamental human right. Over the years, literacy level which is being influenced by access to quality basic education became the metric in rating countries development performance. Historically and globally, boy-child has little problem in accessing formal education unlike the girl-child. Using doctrinal method of research, this paper, examines the right of girl-child to education and educational policy under Nigeria law. The paper finds, among other things, that despite all the strategies adopted by Nigeria to reduce the bottlenecks militating against girl-child access to basic education asenshrined in the Universal Basic Education Policy, 1999, the Strategy for Acceleration of Girls Education in Nigeria, 2003, and the Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 etc., girl - child education in the country is, to a large extent, unsatisfactory. The paper recommends that the government, at all levels, should implement the provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act and other laws and policies on girl-child education and to create an awareness for parents on the fact that girl-child can perform as well as boys in schools if given equal opportunities.