a woman paddles her canoe in the Niger Delta

Nigeria

ActionAid began work in Nigeria in 2000. Find out facts about Nigeria, the issues the country faces, and what ActionAid does to support communities to claim their rights and access services like healthcare, clean water and education.

30 % 
of girls are married before the age of 181

39 % 
of people live in poverty2

31 % 
of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence3

Why we work in Nigeria

Nigeria is often referred to as the ‘giant of Africa’ because of its large economy and population – but it also faces some of the world’s biggest development challenges.

A rapidly growing population has overwhelmed the education system, meaning that 1 in 3 children are not in school. Those that are face huge class sizes, poorly trained teachers and the threat of attack from armed groups. 

The world caught a glimpse of these dangers when 200 girls were abducted from a school in 2014.

Women’s rights and poverty in Nigeria

Women in Nigeria earn on average 25% less than their male counterparts, and despite making up the majority of the agricultural workforce, they are often not in control of the land they work on. 

Despite these challenges, the poor in Nigeria can pay more in taxes than multinational oil and energy companies. It is estimated that US$15 billion was lost to illegal financial flows each year, most of which is a result of harmful tax practices.

The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.

What we do in Nigeria

Since we started working in Nigeria in 2000 we have reached thousands of people across 12 states in Nigeria.

We work with parents, teachers, community and religious leaders to challenge entrenched attitudes that stop families from sending their daughters to school, and address the reasons why girls are likely to drop out.

We support women's rights by encouraging communities to adopt policies that protect women and girls, and to compensate survivors of violence.

And we call upon multinational corporations to pay their taxes, and for the government to use this money to provide decent public services.

Education in Nigeria: Hadiza’s story

Hadiza works hard at school, and got high marks in her final year exams. She says: 

I don’t have anything bothering my education and schooling. My teachers teach me well in school and I get support from my brother at home.”

ActionAid supports education for girls like Hadiza by pressing local authorities to recruit more female teachers, since Muslim parents are often more likely to send girls to school with female teachers.

We also build separate toilets for girls, so that they do not have to miss school when on their periods. 

Learn more about our work supporting girls' education

Hadiza at school in Nigeria

Akinkugbe Okikiola/ActionAid

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Footnotes

  • 1 https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/learning-resources/child-marriage-atlas/atlas/nigeria/
  • 2 https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/nigeria/overview
  • 3 https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/media/6696/file/16%20facts%20document.pdf
 Faith, a farmer from a community impacted by oil mining, paddles her canoe in the Niger Delta. Etinosa ​Yvonne/​ActionAid    

Page updated 9 March 2026