Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria
Despite near-universal commitments to end child marriage, recent study shows that 19 per cent of girls marry before age 18, while five per cent marry before age 15, writes Ugo Aliogo
Despite many international agreements outlawing child marriage, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, study has shown that 43 per cent of girls in Nigeria get married before their 18th birthday and 16 per cent get married before the age of 15.
According to a report by a non-governmental organization, Girls Not Brides, 3 per cent of boys in Nigeria are married before the age of 18.
“Child marriage is most common in the North-west and North-east of Nigeria, where 68 per cent and 57 per cent of women aged 20-49 were married before their 18th birthday. In the North western state of Jigawa, 78 per cent of women aged 20-49 were first married before the age of 18, half of these women are in polygynous unions and 35 per cent of women have spouses who are older by at least 10 years, 63 of these women dropped out of school to marry, according to a recent study.
“It has been observed that early marriage can have detrimental effects on the growth and development of the girl-child. The argument is that when young girls are married off at a tender age, they are stripped off the opportunity to pursue education, personal aspirations, and self-discovery. Instead, they are thrust into adult responsibilities and roles, which can stunt their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth, “the report stated..
The International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 also called on countries to eliminate child marriage.
Despite near-universal commitments to end child marriage, 19 per cent of girls get married before age 18, an average of tens of thousands of girls every single day. Five per cent of girls get married before age 15. Girls that are married or enter informal unions early are denied the right to equality, education, and a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and that of their family.
Expert Viewpoints
To bring a deeper insight into the discourse, THISDAY spoke to United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), National Programme Analyst, ASRH/YD/Child Marriage Focal Point, Bahijjatu Bello-Garko, who stated that the high prevalence of child marriage in Nigeria is worrisome, adding that the statistics highlight the urgency in addressing the negative impacts, such as limited education, health risks and diminished opportunities for girls from all stakeholders.
She stated that the girls at greatest risk of early marriage are often those hardest to reach, adding that they often come from poor families, marginalised groups or rural areas, and they are also more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers, robbed of the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential.
She lamented that child marriage threatens girls’ lives and health, and it limits their future prospects.
She remarked that girls affected by child marriage often become pregnant while still adolescents, increasing the risk of complications in pregnancy or childbirth, noting that these complications are often the leading cause of death among older adolescent girls.
Bello-Garko hinted that child marriage can lead to further isolation from family, friends and communities, and threaten girls’ psychosocial development, livelihood and health.
In the same vein, the Actionaid Nigeria, Manager, Social Mobilisation, Adeduntan Adewale, said child marriage not only limits the potentials of the girl-child, but also exposes them to a host of health risks, social isolation, and economic dependency, adding that it becomes imperative to delve deeper into the negative consequences of early marriage on the well-being and future prospects of the girl-child, as it remains a pressing issue in many parts of the world.
He said child marriage is a harmful practice with significant negative consequences, particularly for girls, noting that child brides are often forced to drop out of school, which deprives them of educational opportunities, limiting their ability to acquire knowledge and skills that are crucial for their personal development and future economic prospects.
He argued that child brides are at a higher risk of various health problems, including early and frequent pregnancies, and they are more likely to experience complications during childbirth, which can have long-term health consequences, and their children also face higher risks of health problems VVF.
Motivation
Bello-Garko argued that many impoverished parents believe that marriage would secure their daughters’ future by ensuring that another family would be responsible for their care, adding that this is also true in humanitarian crises, when many parents fear they would be unable to protect or care for their daughters.
She espoused that some mistakenly believe marriage would protect their daughters from pregnancy out of wedlock and sexual violence, which is often exacerbated in times of crisis.
According to her, “Some parents may perceive their daughters as burdens or commodities, a perception exacerbated in times of crisis. Younger brides typically command larger dowries, creating an incentive for parents to marry their daughters off early and, parents in difficult circumstances may marry off their daughters as a source of income. More often than not, child marriage is the outcome of having few choices. When girls have choices and opportunities, they marry later.
Child marriage persists due to a complex interplay of factors, including tradition, culture, poverty, and societal norms. Tradition and societal values play a role, but so do economic pressures and lack of awareness about its consequences.”
Adewale, viewpoint is that child marriage persists as a deep-seated issue in many societies, including Nigeria, due to a complex interplay of cultural, societal, economic, and gender-related factors.
He argued that addressing child marriage in Nigeria requires a comprehensive approach that includes legal reforms, community engagement, education, economic empowerment, and efforts to challenge harmful cultural norms.
He expressed confidence that it is essential to work collaboratively with communities, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to change attitudes and behaviours related to child marriage and promote gender equality and the well-being of girls.
In his words: “In many communities in Nigeria, child marriage is deeply entrenched in cultural and traditional practices. These norms often dictate that girls should be married off at a young age, and the practice is seen as a rite of passage or a way to preserve cultural traditions.
“Poverty is a significant driver of child marriage. Families living in poverty may marry off their daughters at an early age as a strategy for economic survival. The dowry or bride price received from the groom’s family may be seen as a way to alleviate financial burdens. The lack of educational opportunities for girls, particularly in rural areas, plays a critical role. When girls have limited access to quality education, families may see marriage as a more viable option for their daughters, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty and gender inequality.”
Scaling the Efforts of NGOs
In scaling the efforts of NGOs, Bello-Garko, said the scaling efforts to address child marriage requires a multi-faceted approach involving education, legal reforms, and community engagement, while building on existing strategies is crucial, adapting and innovating new methods can enhance effectiveness.
She revealed that progress has been uneven, and child marriage is not declining fast enough, because of population growth in regions where child marriage is more prevalent as well as the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the total number of child marriages is projected to increase by 2030, adding that to change this, there is need to accelerate actions to end child marriage.
She said: “Existing laws against child marriage should be enforced, especially when girls at risk of child marriage, or who are already married, seek protection and justice. And where it is not yet the case, the legal age of marriage should be raised to 18 without exceptions. But laws only provide the framework for action against child marriage. Practices people deem acceptable are unlikely to disappear through legislation alone. Governments, civil society and other partners must work together to ensure girls have access to quality education, health information and services, comprehensive sexuality education and life-skills training. Girls who are able to stay in school and remain healthy enjoy a broader range of options, and they are more likely to be able to avoid child marriage.”
Adewale’s opinion is similar to Bello-Garko, they both agree that scaling efforts to address child marriage in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach that builds on the existing work of other NGOs and CSOs while also considering innovative strategies.
His view is that reinventing methods may not always be necessary, but it’s important to adapt strategies to the evolving needs and challenges in different regions of the country, while adding that flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to long-term change are key principles in addressing the deeply rooted issue of child marriage.
Future of Girl-Child
The Actionaid Social Mobolisation Manager added that there is hope and the potential for a fulfilled future for a girl-child who has been involved in child marriage, while noting that child marriage can have significant negative impacts on a girl’s life, it is not a hopeless situation.
He added that with the right support and opportunities, girls who have experienced child marriage can overcome many challenges and build better lives for themselves.
He averred that it is important to emphasize that every girl’s journey is unique, and the level of support needed may vary, and addressing the root causes of child marriage and preventing it in the first place is crucial to reducing its prevalence and protecting girls from its harmful effects.
According to Bello-Garko, “UNFPA is committed to delivering tangible, evidence-based solutions to child marriage with an emphasis on efforts that are gender-transformative, can be scaled-up, sustained and produce measurable results. UNFPA works with governments and civil society partners at all levels to promote and protect the human rights of girls including assisting with the development of sexual and reproductive health, gender and youth policies, programmes and services and to transform gender norms to end the practice of child marriage. Many of these efforts, such as the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage, empower girls to know and exercise their human rights, including their right to choose, as adults, whether, when and whom to marry.”
In 2015, UNFPA Nigeria presented its Adolescent girls initiative programme, a holistic programme for adolescent girls in Northern Nigeria to prevent early and force child marriage ensuring the integration of education, sexual reproductive health and healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy. Over the years the program has expanded to cover various facets to support ending child marriage in Nigeria. Additionally, the 9th UNFPA country programme (2023-2027) focuses on ending harmful practices, including child marriage in high burden states in the North-west and North-east zones.
