Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohannaye, has taken legal action to halt the proposed marriage of 100 orphans in Niger State.
The decision became necessary to stop the plan of the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, to marry young girls due to the increasing number of orphans married to bandits.
Mrs. Kennedy-Ohannaye strongly condemned the proposed marriages, stating that they violate the Child Rights ACT and raise serious concerns about the ages and consent of the girls involved.
Emphasizing the importance of considering the future of the girls, she promised to provide them with necessary support and empowerment opportunities to help them realize their potential.
Mrs. Kennedy-Ohannaye noted that she has informed the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation, urging them to launch an investigation into the matter.
In another development, Mrs. Kennedy-Ohannaye disclosed plans to distribute POS machines, laptops, and farming tools to women across all thirty-six states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of the Ministry’s sustainable empowerment initiatives.
RN
