Big Brother Naija’s Bisola wins ONE’S back to school challenge – Nigerians too can win by joining the #GirlsCount

ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigerian media personality Abisola ‘Bisola’ Aiyeola won ONE’s Back to School presentation task as part of the ONE Campaign’s #GirlsCount focusing on girls education. The #GirlsCount Campaign recognises that globally, 130 million girls are out of school and asks citizens of the world to count them, one-by-one, while urging our leaders to act. The ONE Campaign also provides a chance for Nigerian citizens to join the #GirlsCount campaign and win.

Bisola’s winning presentation called on Nigerian policymakers to prioritise girls’ education. As part of the collaboration between Big Brother Naija and ONE, housemates were asked to put together a presentation based on information and statistics about girls’ education in Nigeria from ONE’s Poverty is Sexist policy report. The aim of the task was to call on the Nigerian Federal and State government to prioritise girls’ education. As part of the task, housemates highlighted the barriers to girls’ education in Nigeria and presented possible solutions to ensuring every girl in Nigeria completes primary and secondary school.

In Nigeria, the #GirlsCount Campaign is focused on increasing access and quality education for girls in Nigeria, with an emphasis on girls in Northern Nigeria. Because poverty is sexist, it disproportionately affects women and girls. While globally, there are 130 million girls out of school, in Nigeria there are at least 10.5 million children out of school. In addition, Nigerian girls’ participation rate in education remains lower than boys’ across all levels of education, particularly at senior secondary level. In primary school, 31% of Nigerian girls are out of school compared to 27% of boys.

Commenting on the winning presentation, ONE’s Nigeria Director Serah Makka said:

“The housemates displayed real passion and dedication as they sought to understand the issues, call on the Nigerian government to implement policies that increase girls’ access to quality education and propose solutions of getting citizens involved in this campaign. It is a global crisis that 130 million girls are not in school and Nigeria is unfortunately contributing a significant share to this. Educating girls secures the future of Nigeria.

We are proud to congratulate Bisola! Her presentation was very moving as she highlighted the status of girls education. ONE looks forward to working with her to take our Campaign to the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September. During the UN General Assembly we will ask Nigerian and other African leaders to make education work for every girl by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4.”

Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Representative of Surulere and ONE Ambassador Hon. Desmond Elliot said: “As Africa’s biggest economy, we have to lead by example by investing more in the Girls Child education, through the efforts of our governments increased funds towards the girl child. I am looking forward to be working with Bisola and others to make Nigeria reach its full strength.”

All Nigerians and followers of BBNaija also have a chance to win.  Every week, one Nigerian citizen who joins the #GirlsCount campaign stands a chance to win ONE merchandise which includes: t-shirts, caps wristbands and more. To join the #GirlsCount campaign, post a video  or picture online with a message on girls education. Get creative! Ask your friends and family to take part and help us spread the word and win. For more information logon to  www.one.org/BBNaija

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ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of more than 8 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to increase investments in education, health agriculture and nutrition, as well as demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs.