From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Stakeholders from the North West region of Nigeria, Sunday expressed dismay over the early child marriage in the northwest, saying child marriage is more prevalent in the region where 48 percent of girls were married by age 15 and 78 percent married by age 18.
Speaking at an experience-sharing workshop on child marriage in the northwest organized for stakeholders in Kaduna by Global Innovative for Women and Children, with support, from development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) and Ford Foundation, the Program Manager Global Innovative for Women and Children, Aminu Babagida said it is time for brainstorming to tame this monster called Child marriage.
Babagida added that the stakeholders, including the Commissioners of Health, Education and Women Affairs from Kaduna, Kabbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto states as well as traditional and community leaders are brainstorming on how to
get to the root cause of the problem and finding a lasting solution to the report
that makes Nigeria one of the highest rate of child marriages globally.
In her remarks, the Acting governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe said that child marriage is one of the key challenges in the north that has an enormous effect on education, health including sexual and reproductive health.
She said the state government recognises the root of the problem which is why it prioritises human capital development, noting that the government has made efforts to offer the first 12 years of education free and compulsory for all in the state to tackle the challenge.
Similarly Kaduna state Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba said that child marriage, whether directly or indirectly is a global issue and harmful practice to the societies and advised that children under the age of 18 should not be pushed into early marriage, but allowed to pursue their education.
“Child marriage is often the result of entrenched gender inequality, making girls disproportionately affected by the practice. Ending child marriage will boost efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by improving access to education, encouraging economic growth, enhancing nutrition and food security as well as improving maternal and child health,” she said.
In her presentation a development worker, Hajiya Binta Kasimu said the girls who lost their parents to Banditry goes into early marriage and prostitution because they have no means of survival.
She expressed dismay over the high rate of banditry in the country saying it has forced many displaced orphaned girls into child marriage and prostitution.
