Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has warned that early marriage remains a major barrier to Nigeria’s development, calling for urgent investment in girls’ education and protection as 44 per cent marry before age 18.
Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has warned that child marriage remains a major obstacle to Nigeria’s development, with nearly half of Nigerian girls married before adulthood.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja at the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child celebration organised by Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria and Pink Up for Girls Initiative, the minister said early marriage was “a sobering violation of rights” that entrenched poverty, inequality and silenced girls’ potential.
“In spite of progress, the statistics are distressing. According to UNICEF, 44 per cent of Nigerian girls marry before 18, and 18 per cent before 15. Each figure represents a dream deferred and potential lost,” she said.
She noted that early marriage fuelled maternal deaths, weakened human capital and stalled national progress. She called for increased investment in safe education, mentorship and empowerment, insisting that “girls must be given the tools to thrive without fear or limitations”.
“Beyond advocacy, we must build safe spaces at home, school, and online. Parents must protect, communities must reject harmful traditions, and religious leaders must act as moral guides,” she added.
SCI Country Director, Duncan Harvey, said girls must be viewed not as victims but as leaders and innovators already designing solutions to end child marriage.
Bukky Maiye, CEO of Pink Up for Girls, represented by Ginika Ukoha, urged sustained support systems, saying, “We gather not out of pity, but purpose.”
The event featured student presentations, an award ceremony and a panel titled “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead”, showcasing girls already driving change in their communities.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DAILY NIGERIAN