Professor John Ngamsa of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, has voiced deep concern over the high number of out-of-school girls in Northern Nigeria, linking the trend to the persistent insecurity in the region.

Speaking on Saturday in Yola during a media training session for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) in Adamawa State, Prof. Ngamsa—who also serves as the Implementing Coordinator and CEO of Rhamo Enterprises—revealed that out of Nigeria’s estimated 20 million out-of-school girls, 15 million are from the North alone.

He explained that the purpose of the training was to enlighten journalists on the goals of the AGILE project and to encourage public advocacy that motivates parents to prioritize the education of their daughters.

“In a diverse and dynamic country like Nigeria, the key to national development lies in empowering its youth,” Ngamsa stated. “Adolescent girls are a vital demographic whose education and empowerment are essential to fostering sustainable progress.”

He described AGILE as a transformative initiative aimed at equipping girls across Nigeria with the necessary skills and opportunities to become future leaders.

“Unfortunately, adolescent girls continue to suffer disproportionately from socio-economic challenges, gender-based discrimination, and limited access to quality education,” he added.

He highlighted additional barriers including child marriage, teenage pregnancy, inadequate healthcare, and harmful cultural norms that discourage female education—factors that have stifled the potential of many young girls.

To confront these issues head-on and cultivate a new generation of empowered female leaders, the AGILE program has been launched in Adamawa State.