CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION:

The quantity and quality of education available to Nigerian girls/women will invariably determine the developmental pace of Nigerian families, and Nigeria nation at large. It should be noted that what Nigerian girls /women are today and what they're going to be tomorrow depends on what plans Nigeria as a rustic has for the girl child.

According to Oniye (2008), Nigeria is yearning for patriotic citizens to develop their potentials politically, economically, socially and technologically. The actualization of those wonderful goals depends on the availability of functional education to the citizenry especially the ladies who are future mothers, future teachers of kids.

Thus, unless the mother herself is enlightened, she cannot inculcate within the child the spirit and principle of true patriotism which may be a basic requirement for national development. It therefore means any meaningful development depends on the education of the girl-child.

Since it's believed that the proper place for girls is within the kitchen, some parents et al have considered it not necessary to produce equal educational opportunities to women with their male counterparts. In fact, as far as some parents are concerned, any amount of cash they spend on their daughter‘s education is thought to be a waste.

This is because it's believed that they'd eventually find yourself within the kitchen or in somebody‘s house, while on the opposite hand, any amount of cash spent on a boy‘s education is thought to be useful investment because it's believed that a boy propagates the name. This indeed has made many families, (especially within the area under research), feel reluctant to send their girls to high school.

Another issue which has contributed to inequality against women in education is early marriage. In Northern Nigeria, for instance, some parents withdraw their daughters from school for a few economic reasons or thanks to local customs and religion.

Girls who visited school refused early marriage.
It is a widely accepted incontrovertible fact that the most pointer to social and technological advancement of any nation is that the level of educational development of its citizens.

The role that education plays within the improvement of the standard of people’s lives, acceleration of economic process, harnessing of human intellect and potentials, realization of political stability, appreciation of tolerance and therefore the institution of peace and unity, can not be quantified.

(Jasada, 1999).Education is a very important means through which the society reproduces itself, passes its main characteristics to the following generation also as a dynamic instrument of change and development (World Bank, 1994).

Education is therefore not for the aim of white – collar jobs alone, except for the individual and societal development, hence it's desirable that everybody should have it including the feminine.

The female – child being the long run homemaker and custodian of social, cultural and developmental values of the society, must be educated a minimum of Gymnasium level.

An educated woman may have the flexibility to create a contemporary home, maintain higher standard of cleanliness and attractive surroundings, socialize along with her children, and maintain stable marriage and other ways of life necessary for human survival.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In Nigeria today the girl child is currently faced with numerous formidable difficulties in the areas of survival, protection, socio-political participation, psychosocial an intellectual development and these indices of human development are beyond the control of the child and therefore needs the adult members of the society to attain these indices through education.

For instance these girls are not protected from the ills in the society such as early marriage, teenage pregnancy, street hawking, child labour, they are often seen either roaming the streets, waiting to be hired for labour or begging in motor parks where they receive all sorts of abuse from touts or engage in one form of economic activity among others when they should be in school.

Other barriers that have been identified include: cultural beliefs, poverty, parent unwillingness to send the girl-child to school, some cultures also do not encourage girl-child education and exposes the girl to early marriage, ignorance and illiteracy of parents.

This has been a source of worry to the counselors, teachers and educationists among others and if nothing is done these girls will grow to be nonentities in the society and there will be no opportunity for them to contribute their own quarter to the national development. Finally, several researches has been carried out on socio-economic development and the girl-child education; a look at jos north local government, plateau state but not even a single research has been carried out on the girl child education as a veritable tool to sustainable economic development in Nigeria, a case study of Bokkos local government area.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim and objectives of the study is to determine girl child education as a veritable tool to sustainable economic development. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. to determine the factors affecting girl child education and its effect on the sustainable development of Nigeria.
2. to determine the effect of girl child education on economic development of Nigeria.
3. to determine the extent to which girl child education affects economic development in Nigeria.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
   1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.     What are the factors affecting girl child education and its effect on the sustainable development in Nigeria?

2.     What is the effect of girl child education on economic development of Nigeria?

3.     What is the extent to which girl child education affects economic development in Nigeria?

4.     What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  Girl child education has no significant effect on the sustainable economic development.

Hi:   Girl child education has a significant effect on the sustainable economic development.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on girl child education as a veritable tool to sustainable economic development in Nigeria will be of immense benefit to the Bokkos local government area in the sense that it will enable the government to improve funding to enable all female children access to education by partnering with non-governmental Organizations (NGO) for enlightenment campaign on the importance of education. 

Public enlightenment through the use of various media. Strengthening of the Child Right Act and ensuring strict compliance to the Acts by all concerned.

Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on the girl child education as a veritable tool to sustainable study economic development is limited to Bokkos local government area of Nigeria.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Girl-child:        A young female child 

Education:      It’s the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, morals, beliefs, and habits.

Veritable:                Used for emphasis, often to qualify a metaphor.

Sustainable:    Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

Economic:       Relating to economics or the economy.

Development: The process of developing or being developed.