Abuja: A non-governmental organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has urged for more practical measures to tackle the pervasive issue of child marriage in Nigeria. The organisation emphasised that child marriage, a form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), needs actionable steps beyond mere policy documentation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Plan International, which focuses on promoting children’s rights and equality for girls globally, highlighted the urgent need for systemic changes. The Country Director of the group, Dr. Charles Usie, expressed these views in a statement released by its Communications Advisor, Ms. Queeneth Njoku, as part of the 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. This annual global campaign, running from November 25 to December 10, aims to mobilise governments, communities, and institutions to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that four out of every ten girls in Nigeria are married before the age of 18, with the prevalence of child marriage remaining alarmingly high. Approximately 44 per cent of girls, equating to over 24 million child brides, are married before reaching adulthood, ranking Nigeria third globally in this regard.
Dr. Usie pointed out that addressing child marriage requires systemic changes in environments where harmful norms are perpetuated, such as homes, schools, health facilities, and religious and traditional institutions. He stressed the importance of clear, harmonised, and fully enforced laws, alongside community-led initiatives that uphold and protect gender rights.
He asserted that every girl-child deserves the right to a childhood, the right to be supported and empowered, and the ability to make personal decisions rather than being coerced into marriage. The organisation is committed to creating safe and inclusive environments where every girl can learn, lead, and thrive without the threat of forced marriage.
“Plan International Nigeria remains steadfast in its commitment to build safe, inclusive, and empowering environments for women and girls. Make sexual violence a crime, inside and outside of marriage. Keep girls in school, no more dropouts; set up flexible learning options for married or pregnant girls with transport stipends and childcare and make it simple for them to get back on track. Make services work for girls: Expand adolescent-friendly health services and train providers to understand and support girls,” Usie conveyed.
He further urged the government to establish a uniform minimum marital age of 18 and enforce birth and marriage registration for every girl-child.