Girl child education key to human capital development – Expert

Dr Olumide Okunola, Senior Health Specialist, World Bank, on Tuesday said girl child education is key to human capital development in the country.

Okunola said this in an interview in Abuja.

He called on state governors to make education at least from primary to secondary schools compulsory for all, saying that it would help to end child marriage in the country.

"Imagine when a girl child is kept in schools, there will be no time for her to be married off at a very tender age.

"Imagine when she is in school, unwanted pregnancy will be avoided and she will be empowered to take care of herself and child after marriage," he said.

The World Bank officer, who reiterated the imperatives of education, called on state governments to implement and monitor Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes.

He said there was the need for a shift from 'business as usual' to doing things the unusual way to increase productivity and human development.

Describing education as a major driver for economic development, Okunola said that Nigeria needed to take drastic measures in averting human development crisis.

He called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve the desired human development gals of the country.