When will early marriage end in Nigeria?

Early marriage remains one of the major issues confronting girls in Northern Nigeria. Many of these girls are denied access to education because of a deeply conservative belief that a woman’s worth lies only in her husband’s home. In some communities, the value of a girl is measured by the size of her bride price. […]

Early marriage remains one of the major issues confronting girls in Northern Nigeria. Many of these girls are denied access to education because of a deeply conservative belief that a woman’s worth lies only in her husband’s home. In some communities, the value of a girl is measured by the size of her bride price.

Most of these girls are married off to men often three times their age. This is not marriage; it is child abuse.

Early marriage has shattered the dreams of countless girls who once had ambitions and aspirations. Before they can find their path in life, marriage is forced upon them.

In many communities, the girl child is perceived as weak and fragile, confined to traditions that define her only as a homemaker without aspirations. Yet, as the saying goes, “Educating a woman is equivalent to educating an entire nation.”

A report by UNICEF reveals that a majority of out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls, about 60 percent of the estimated 18.5 million out-of-school children nationwide. This means that more than 10 million Nigerian girls are not in school. The report attributes this to insecurity, poverty, and cultural norms, particularly in the northern region.

UNICEF also reports that around 12 million girls are married off each year before turning 18, while about 650 million women and girls alive today were married as children. Although the global rate of child marriage has declined, progress has been slow and uneven, making it unlikely that the world will meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending child marriage by 2030.

These statistics are alarming, highlighting the plight of millions of girls denied education and forced into early marriage.

In Nigeria, child marriage rates are among the highest in Africa. The Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003 prohibits marriage below age 18, but the Nigerian Constitution contains provisions that conflict with this law. Some states with Islamic legal systems have not adopted the CRA, while others that have done so have failed to enforce it.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern that nearly two decades after the CRA was enacted, many Nigerian girls are still being forced into marriage. Mausi Segun, Africa Director at HRW, said. In 2021, HRW interviewed 16 married girls aged between 14 and 19, as well as representatives of civil society groups working to end child marriage and gender-based violence in Imo and Kano states. The organisation noted that while the federal CRA aligns with international conventions, Section 29(4)(b) of Nigeria’s Constitution defines any married female as having reached the age of majority, regardless of her actual age.

Eleven of Nigeria’s 36 states have yet to domesticate the CRA. Some reports indicate that up to 78 percent of girls in certain states marry before age 18.

Child marriage is not only a violation of human rights but also a public health crisis. Many of these girls face serious reproductive health complications, including death during childbirth. When a girl becomes pregnant before her body is fully developed, her narrow pelvis can cause obstructed labour, leading to internal injuries, excessive bleeding, or even death if emergency care is unavailable.

Nigeria records one of the highest rates of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) globally, with an estimated 12,000 new cases annually and between 400,000 and 800,000 women currently living with the condition. Most cases are linked to early marriage, poor access to healthcare, and prolonged labour. Victims often suffer social stigma, poverty, and deep psychological trauma.

Behind the statistics are the silent tears of young girls who never had a choice. In many parts, marriage at a tender age is not a celebration of love but a sentence of lost potential. Their education and dreams are cut short, leaving us to ask: When will early marriage end in Nigeria and allow our girls to decide their own future?

According to Save the Children, more than 22,000 girls die each year from pregnancy and childbirth resulting from child marriage. West and Central Africa, which have the highest rates globally, account for nearly half of these deaths, about 26 every day. The region’s teenage maternal mortality rate is four times higher than the global average.

To end this cycle, the government, traditional rulers, and community leaders must act decisively. Agencies should be created in rural communities to monitor and prevent early marriage, and strict penalties should be enforced for offenders. These agencies and NGOs must also educate parents and religious leaders about the dangers of early marriage.

Poverty remains a major driver, so free and compulsory education is essential. Ending early marriage will require a united effort, particularly from religious and traditional leaders, to reach vulnerable communities and give every Nigerian girl the chance to dream, learn, and thrive.

 

Zainab Musa Bwala

Kashim Ibrahim University