44% of Nigerian Girls Still in Early Marriages, Minister Raises Alarm

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for urgent and sustained efforts to end child marriage in Nigeria, lamenting that about 44 per cent of girls in the country are married before the age of 18.

Speaking in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Front Lines of Crisis,” the minister described early marriage as one of the gravest threats to the future of Nigerian girls. She noted that nearly 18 per cent of them are married off before the age of 15.

“Each number represents a dream interrupted a girl denied education, voice, and choice,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said, warning that the trend perpetuates poverty, increases maternal mortality, and hinders national development.

She stressed that the Nigerian girl is not just a beneficiary of empowerment efforts but an agent of change who continues to lead in education, peacebuilding, climate justice, and innovation. The minister urged government agencies, civil society, and traditional institutions to dismantle harmful norms that violate girls’ rights.

Highlighting the government’s progress, she cited the revised National Strategy and Costed Plan of Action on Ending Child Marriage, the review of the Child Rights Act and Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and the validation of a National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene.

Despite these policies, she acknowledged that regional challenges persist. Girls in the North face insecurity and lack of education, the South-East battles economic exclusion, the South-West grapples with child labour and street hawking, while poverty and environmental degradation worsen girls’ vulnerability in the Niger Delta.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim appealed to parents, guardians, and faith leaders to act as “the first line of defence” against abuse and exploitation, noting new dangers such as cyberbullying and online grooming.

“To our girls, I say: stand tall, stay focused, and be patient. True beauty lies in purpose, true love in respect, and true power in knowledge. You are enough, and your dreams are valid,” she declared.

Also speaking, the Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria emphasised the need for stronger action to amplify girls’ voices and support girl-led initiatives. He noted that over 150 girls have taken leadership roles in advocacy through programmes such as the Children’s Parliament and Girl Champions initiative.

UNICEF data cited at the event revealed that one in five young Nigerian women was married as a child, with higher rates in crisis-affected areas.

The ceremony, attended by policymakers, civil society groups, and members of the Children’s Parliament, ended with renewed calls for greater investment in girl-child education, protection, and leadership.

“As we reflect on 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, one truth remains clear: no country can achieve sustainable development without women and girls,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated, urging the media and all stakeholders to amplify girls’ voices.

“To every Nigerian girl, from Sokoto to Calabar, from Maiduguri to Lagos you are the light in the shadows. The nation awaits your brilliance, and the world awaits your voice,” she added.