Policy Issues towards Enhancing Girls’ Education and Sustainable Development in Nigerian Higher Institutions of Learning

Education is recognized all over the world as an essential instrument for the empowerment and social transformation of individuals  therefore, any form of education being put i place is aiming at increasing the level of illiteracy rate in the society. Achieving gender parity in education is one of the aims of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and it is also a primary objective of the 1990 World declaration on Education for All (EFA) as well as the Dakar framework olfaction (2000). But till date, gender equality still remains elusive. The paper examines girls and women education in Nigeria vis-à-vis sustainable development. It further evaluates several programmed being put in place by various governments and development partners to achieve gender parity in education as proposed by the MDGs. The problems facing girls and women education in Nigeria were also discussed in the paper. Finally, some planning and policies issues were raised as conditions for ensuring gender parity in Nigeria’s education system.

Keywords: Gender; Education; Sustainable development; Millennium Development Goals; Girls andwomen education; Education for All.