The Report of a Survey by Save the Children International (SCI) has shown that child marriage, lack of education and harmful practices affecting women and girls are still on the increase in Nigeria especially in the North.
This was revealed in Abuja during the official launch of the dissemination of the report of a survey conducted by Save the Children International (SCI) titled: “State of the Nigerian Girl Report: An Incisive Diagnosis of Child Marriage and Girls Education in Nigeria”.
The report which is published by Save the Children International (SCI) on it’s website, revealed that child marriage is more prevalent in the North-West with 78% of girls in the North getting married before age 18 years, and 48% given out in marriage before 15.
According to the Chief Child Protection Officer, UNICEF Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Sisi, Nigeria has the largest rate of child marriage in Africa as one in five underage girls are married off early. He therefore stressed the need for the Government and stakeholders to strengthen the mechanisms that will protect children from any form of abuse and harmful practices affecting the girl child.
The Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen explained that the event was a clarion call to change the situation of girls in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals SGDs, Inclusive and Equitable Education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The wife of Kwara State Governor Mrs. Folake Abdulrazak stressed the need to end child marriage and get rid of some cultural practices that encourages gender based violence and fully ensure the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.