Nigeria could generate more than $400 billion in additional income by 2040 if it significantly increases investment in adolescent girls, according to a new report by the World Bank Group.
The report estimates that achieving this economic gain would require about $37 billion in targeted investments focused on education, healthcare, digital access, and economic inclusion for girls.
According to the World Bank, adolescent girls represent one of Nigeria’s biggest untapped drivers of long-term economic growth and productivity.
The report noted that although Nigeria records moderate levels of school enrolment, relatively low rates of early marriage, and fair labour participation among girls aged 15 to 19, deep regional and income inequalities continue to limit opportunities, especially in northern Nigeria.
“Estimates suggest that investing in adolescent girls in Nigeria between now and 2040 could generate more than $400 billion in additional income for a cost of around $37 billion,” the report stated.
The World Bank highlighted severe disparities across regions, with girls in the North West and North East facing some of the worst social and economic outcomes due to insecurity, poverty, and poor access to education and opportunities.
According to the report, 45.7 per cent of girls aged 15–19 in Nigeria are currently in school, below Africa’s average of 51.5 per cent. About 30.6 per cent are engaged in economic activities, slightly above the continental average.
However, the report said the national averages conceal deeper vulnerabilities in poorer regions.
In the North West, 55.1 per cent of girls fall into vulnerable categories such as being out of school, unemployed, or already married with children. In the North East, the figure stands at 46.4 per cent.
The report also revealed major rural-urban disparities.
Only 32.4 per cent of rural girls are enrolled in school, compared to 59.2 per cent in urban areas. Early marriage rates are also more than four times higher among rural girls.
The report showed that only 15.9 per cent of girls from the poorest households attend school, compared to 62.2 per cent from wealthier homes. Nearly 59.3 per cent of poor girls are neither in school nor employed.
The World Bank further noted that gender-based barriers continue to affect girls disproportionately.
About 19.2 per cent of girls aged 15–19 are already married or have children, compared to just 0.6 per cent of boys within the same age group.
Only 12.3 per cent of adolescent girls use the internet, compared to 18.1 per cent of boys, while smartphone ownership among girls stands at 36.6 per cent, significantly lower than the 51.1 per cent recorded among boys.
The report stressed that girls are more than twice as likely as boys to be out of school and unemployed, limiting their transition into productive economic roles.
To unlock the projected $400 billion economic opportunity, the World Bank recommended expanded access to secondary education, improved sexual and reproductive healthcare, stronger protection against early marriage, and wider access to digital and financial services.
The report also called for targeted interventions in vulnerable and conflict-affected regions, particularly in northern Nigeria.
In addition, the World Bank highlighted the importance of scaling up programmes such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a $1.2 billion programme focused on school infrastructure, scholarships, and skills development for girls.
The AGILE programme currently targets 18 Nigerian states, including Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, and Adamawa, among others.
According to the World Bank, the initiative aims to reach over 15 million students, including 8.6 million adolescent girls, as part of efforts to improve educational access and economic opportunities for young women across Nigeria.
