Education under Attack: Strengthening Access to Safe, Inclusive and Resilient Education in Nigeria- The AGIP INITIATIVE Case Study

This study examined education under attack: strengthening access to safe, inclusive, and resilient education in conflict-affected communities in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the Achieving Girl Pride Initiative (AGIP INITIATIVE) as a community-based response to educational insecurity. The study explored the nature and patterns of attacks on education, their effects on educational access and learning outcomes, factors driving attacks, the effectiveness of existing interventions, stakeholder roles, and strategies for strengthening educational resilience. A documentary research design was adopted, using evidence from peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, institutional reports, and programme records. The study was guided by Human Security Theory and Resilience Theory. Findings indicate that attacks on education, particularly in Northern Nigeria, have resulted in school closures, abductions, displacement, infrastructure destruction, psychosocial distress, and significant disruption of learning. Violent extremism, kidnapping for ransom, poverty, unemployment, weak governance, inadequate security, and implementation gaps were identified as major drivers. Existing interventions have improved education protection but remain constrained by inadequate funding, weak coordination, and limited community-level implementation. AGIP INITIATIVE emerges as a significant indigenous civil society actor, demonstrating how locally led interventions can strengthen educational resilience through educational support, community engagement, gender responsive programming, psychosocial assistance, and child protection. The study concludes that sustainable educational resilience requires integrated security measures, inclusive learning systems, community ownership, psychosocial support, and stronger partnerships among government, communities, development partners, and organizations such as AGIP INITIATIVE.