Nigeria could generate more than $400 billion in additional income by 2040 if it prioritises sustained investment in adolescent girls, according to a new report by the World Bank Group.
The report estimates that achieving this outcome would require about $37 billion in targeted spending, mainly in education, healthcare, and economic inclusion programmes designed to strengthen girls’ participation in the economy.
It noted that while Nigeria has relatively moderate school enrolment levels and lower early marriage rates compared to some peers, deep regional and income disparities continue to limit progress, particularly in the northern regions.
According to the report, “Estimates suggest that investing in adolescent girls in Nigeria between now and 2040 could generate more than $400 billion in additional income for a cost of around $37 billion.”
Data show that 45.7 percent of girls aged 15–19 are currently in school, below the African average of 51.5 percent, while 30.6 percent are engaged in economic activity. However, outcomes vary significantly across regions.
Girls in the North West and North East face the most severe challenges, with up to 55.1 percent and 46.4 percent respectively falling into vulnerable categories such as being out of school, unemployed, or already married with children.
The report also highlights rural-urban disparities, showing that only 32.4 percent of rural girls are enrolled in school compared to 59.2 percent in urban areas. Early marriage rates are also significantly higher in rural communities.
Income inequality further deepens the gap, with only 15.9 percent of girls from the poorest households in school, compared to 62.2 percent among the wealthiest. Nearly 59.3 percent of girls from poor households are neither in school nor employed.
To address these challenges, the World Bank has committed $1.2 billion to support girls’ education in 18 Nigerian states through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme.
The initiative was relaunched in Abuja and targets 18 states, including Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, and others across northern and central Nigeria.
The programme aims to reach 15.2 million students, including 8.6 million adolescent girls, with a focus on both married and unmarried girls as well as those with disabilities.
The findings underscore the economic impact of closing gender gaps in education and participation, positioning adolescent girls as a key driver of Nigeria’s long-term development and productivity.
