The federal government has initiated discussions with pertinent UN agencies and other concerned parties to put an end to the practice of early child marriage across the nation. Engaged in these discussions are the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
During a National Dialogue on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria held in Abuja, Ms. Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Country Representative, highlighted that Nigeria has an alarming number of nearly 25 million child brides, with particularly high prevalence rates observed in states like Bauchi, Jigawa, and Zamfara. Munduate emphasized that child marriage violates international human rights standards and is often linked to severe forms of violence against women and girls, including intimate partner violence.
Munduate underscored the urgent need for increased investment in education for all children, stressing that child marriage not only infringes upon human rights but also impedes Nigeria’s social and economic progress. She referenced a recent study by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and UNICEF, which estimated an annual economic burden of $10 billion due to child marriage in Nigeria, along with a projected potential GDP increase of nearly 25% upon its elimination.
Mr. Koessan Kwawu, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, emphasized the adverse effects of child marriage on the health, education, and future opportunities of the child, urging all stakeholders to work towards its eradication.
Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, emphasized the collective responsibility of stakeholders in achieving the goal of ending child marriage by 2030. She stressed the importance of educating and engaging traditional, religious, and women’s groups at the community level about the negative impacts of child marriage on girls.
Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, Chairperson of the Nigerian Governor’s Spouses Forum, highlighted the importance of leveraging legal instruments to end child marriage in Nigeria.
Representing the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed, Emir of Zamfara, emphasized the necessity for children to attain at least 18 years of age and complete secondary school education before entering marriage.