International day of the girl: ActionAid Nigeria calls for end to child marriage

By Stella Odueme

ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal and State Governments, traditional and religious leaders, parents and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to end child marriage and invest more in protecting the rights of girls across the country.

The organisation made the call in a statement issued to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl, observed on October 11, with the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

The statement signed by Andrew Mamedu, PhD, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to advancing girls’ rights and ensuring that they have the resources, opportunities and freedom to shape their own futures.

ActionAid Nigeria said the occasion highlighted the urgent need to protect girls from harmful practices and create opportunities for them to access education, develop their potential, assume leadership roles and determine their futures.

It described child marriage as a violation of girls’ rights rather than merely a cultural practice or family matter, noting that it often deprives girls of their childhood, disrupts their education, limits their economic opportunities and exposes them to violence and early pregnancy.

The organisation cited global estimates indicating that more than 12 million girls are married before reaching adulthood annually, adding that child marriage remains widespread, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Nigeria, ActionAid Nigeria expressed concern over the prevalence of the practice, citing an analysis of the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey which found that 33.4 per cent of young women aged 20 to 24 were married before the age of 18.

According to the statement, the prevalence approaches 50 per cent in the North-East and North-West regions, while UNICEF estimates that more than 3.7 million women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18.

The organisation noted that child marriage was closely associated with poverty and limited access to education, explaining that girls from economically disadvantaged households and those with lower educational attainment were more vulnerable to early marriage.

It also cited UNICEF analysis suggesting that ensuring every girl in Northern Nigeria completes secondary education could reduce child marriage by up to two-thirds, while also lowering adolescent pregnancy rates and improving economic productivity.

Highlighting the importance of empowering girls to challenge harmful practices, ActionAid Nigeria shared the experience of Aisha Aliyu, a participant in its Girl-led Research and Action Project.

According to the organisation, Aisha was 16 when her family began making arrangements for her to marry her cousin.

However, after participating in the project and learning about girls’ rights, education and the consequences of early marriage, she gained the confidence to discuss her desire to continue schooling with her parents.

Her parents eventually cancelled the marriage arrangements, allowing her to return to school. Aisha now hopes to become a businesswoman and mentor other girls in her community.

ActionAid Nigeria said her experience demonstrated how access to information, safe spaces and opportunities for participation could empower girls to challenge practices that threaten their rights and future prospects.

The organisation explained that its Girl-led Research and Action initiative enables girls to investigate issues affecting their lives, generate evidence, share their experiences and advocate for meaningful change.

It added that its work with women’s rights organisations, girls and communities through the Local Rights Programme focuses on addressing harmful gender norms, violence, barriers to education and the exclusion of girls from decision-making.

The statement also highlighted the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, which supports locally led initiatives to advance gender equality and strengthen the leadership of women and girls.

Speaking on the significance of the day, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said investment in girls should go beyond protecting them from harm to recognising their rights, strengthening their leadership and creating opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully to society.

Mamedu stressed that girls must be placed at the centre of decisions affecting their lives, while governments must provide the necessary systems and resources to ensure their rights are realised.

He called on federal and state governments, the National and State Houses of Assembly, justice institutions and law-enforcement agencies to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of laws protecting girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.

The organisation also urged the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission, state ministries of education and State Universal Basic Education Boards to increase investment in safe, quality and inclusive education, particularly for girls in rural, conflict-affected and marginalised communities.

It further called for expanded social protection programmes and livelihood support for vulnerable households to address the economic pressures that make girls more susceptible to early marriage and dropping out of school.

ActionAid Nigeria urged Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development, local governments, schools, legislators and community institutions to establish safe and meaningful platforms through which girls could participate in policy discussions, research and decisions affecting their lives.

The organisation also appealed to parents, traditional and religious leaders, schools, civil society organisations and the media to challenge harmful social norms and promote environments that enable girls to exercise their rights and assume leadership roles.

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