'Nigeria Must Act Now to End Child Marriage' – Women Affairs Minister

The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has renewed calls for decisive action to end child marriage in Nigeria, saying more than 44 per cent of girls are still 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 rights and future of Nigerian girls, with nearly 18 per cent married before 15.

"These are not just statistics; they are shattered aspirations. 

"Every girl pushed into early marriage is denied her right to education, health, dignity and choice," she said.

She insisted that Nigerian girls are not mere beneficiaries of development efforts but active agents of change, leading advocacy in education, peacebuilding, climate justice and digital innovation.

"From the creeks of the Niger Delta to the deserts of the North… girls continue to rise, resilient, resourceful, and ready to lead change, if only we give them the chance," she said, urging government institutions, civil society and traditional leaders to dismantle harmful norms that hinder girls’ rights.

The Minister disclosed that several initiatives currently underway, including the revised National Strategy and Costed Plan of Action to End Child Marriage, the review of the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, and the validation of a National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene.

Despite these policy strides, she admitted that disparities persist across regions: insecurity and limited schooling in the North, cultural and economic exclusion in the South-East, child labour and street hawking in the South-West, and environmental challenges in the Niger Delta.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim called on parents, guardians and faith leaders to become "the first line of defence" against abuse and emerging threats such as cyberbullying, online grooming and deceptive "love promises."

Addressing the nation’s young girls directly, she said: "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 further encouraged them to embrace the Ministry’s campaign: "If you see something, say something, and we will do something."