NCWS Demands Urgent Action Against Child Marriage

The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) is urging urgent action against child marriage in Nigeria, warning that more than 24 million Nigerian women and girls were married before their 18th birthday. In a statement marking the International Day of the Girl Child, the council called for funding and enforcement of laws to end the practice, which they see as a national development crisis.

According to UNICEF data and the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 33.4% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18, with the prevalence reaching nearly 50% in the North-east and North-west regions. The council attributes child marriage to poverty, with girls from impoverished households more likely to marry young.

They highlighted severe health risks associated with early marriage, such as eclampsia, infections, fistula, prematurity, and low birth weight, as well as the loss of education and economic opportunities. The council estimates that investing $114 million in out-of-school girls in two northern states could yield $2.5 billion in economic benefits.

Despite all 36 states adopting the Child Rights Act, implementation remains weak, and the NCWS demands enforcement of the minimum marriage age and an overhaul of relevant constitutional provisions. They propose a comprehensive eight-point action plan, including free birth registration, compulsory marriage registration, improved education and support for girls, and the establishment of child protection systems.

Council President Princess Edna Azura emphasized that a girl's childhood is not to be taken away and called for collective action from government, families, and communities to protect girls' rights and futures.