The El-kanemi Memorial Foundation, a non-governmental organization, revealed alarming statistics on child marriage in Northern Nigeria.
According to Dr. Abba Kyari, the foundation’s Executive Director, 78% of girls in this region marry before turning 18.
Speaking in Damaturu on Thursday, Dr. Kyari highlighted that child marriage is particularly prevalent in the North-West and North-East areas of Nigeria.
He pointed out that 48% of girls in these regions marry by age 15, and 78% marry by age 18. Despite national and international laws against child marriage, the countrywide statistic stands at 44% for girls married before their 18th birthday, a situation he described as a grave violation of their rights and futures.
To address this issue, the foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), organized a dialogue focused on ending child marriage in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
The event, themed “Combat Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies,” sought to raise awareness and promote actionable solutions.
Dr. Kyari emphasized the urgent need to protect girls’ rights and prevent child marriage, which he argued severely limits educational opportunities, increases the risk of domestic violence, and leads to serious health complications.
He called on emirs in Northern Nigeria to join the campaign against child marriage, stressing that giving girls the chance to reach their full potential benefits the entire community.
The Boko Haram insurgency has exacerbated human rights violations and gender-based violence in the region, further depriving children of their ability to make decisions about their lives, Kyari noted.
He described how girl-child marriages cause significant emotional, social, and psychological trauma, hindering their potential and future prospects.
He also pointed out that this practice violates the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and undermines the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, and discrimination.
Prof. Umar Alkali, a facilitator at the event, highlighted the importance of collaboration and dialogue in ending child marriage and promoting the rights of adolescent girls.
He noted that the partnership between the El-kanemi Memorial Foundation and UNFPA aims to create a safer and more supportive environment for women and girls, enabling them to thrive and reach their full potential.
Supporting these efforts, the emir of Fika, representing emirs in Yobe state, pledged their commitment to combat child marriage.
He assured that the emirs will continue to raise awareness about the harmful effects of child marriage in their communities, playing a crucial role in protecting girls’ rights and ending this practice.
“By partnering with traditional leaders like the emirs, the foundation aims to reach a wider audience and bring about significant changes in community mindsets. With our influence and the foundation’s expertise, we are confident this campaign against child marriage will ultimately improve the lives of countless young girls in the region,” he concluded.
