Vol. 1, Issue 9, Part I (2015)

Abstract
In most third world countries, the girl-child, and by extension, women generally have not been accorded their natural right of place in the scheme of things as human beings, and as equal players in the affairs that concern them. They are short-changed, discriminated against, victimized, and stereotyped as hewers of wood and drawers of water, as well as mere labour providers on the farms and in homes. This paper explores challenges and opportunities for the empowerment of women through education. Based on a study of existing research, offering girls basic education is one way of giving them much greater power of enabling them to make genuine choices over the kinds of lives they live, greater access to the labour market, better earnings and personal empowerment.