GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION AND NIGERIA'S NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF SELECTED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ADO-ODO OTA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OGUN STATE

This paper investigates the impact of girl-child education and Nigeria's National Development in selected private and public secondary schools in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State. In order to achieve the objectives of the study the survey research method was adopted and data sourced through the administration of questionnaires. Descriptive method of data analysis involving frequencies tables and percentages were utilized to analyze the information generated from the survey study. Chi-square normal distribution technique was used for the test of the study hypothesis. The study reveals that cultural practices and colonial intrusion serve as major encumbrances to girlchild education and that inaccessibility of the girl-child to education makes her vulnerable to early marriage, denial of rights and child labour et. cetera. The study concludes that proper education of the girl-child is highly imperative for economic empowerment, wealth creation, and social transformation, political and academic development which constitute veritable means of national development and individual empowerment and recommended that cultural practices and stigmatization against girl-child particularly in rural communities should be outlawed amongst others.