A Civil Society Organisation, Save the Children International SCI says 78 per cent of girls in the northern part of Nigeria marry before 18 years.
In a statement to Radio Nigeria in Dutse by the SCI, Media and Communications Manager, Mr Kunle Olawoyin explains that child marriage is common in the north-west and north-eastern part of the country with 48 per cent of girls who marry in their 15 and 78 per cent by 18 years.
He said the report showed that Nigeria was one of the countries with the highest rates of child marriage globally with 44 per cent of girls married before their 18th birthday.
“According to the report, it’s a major cause of endemic poverty, poor education outcomes, school dropout rates, high rate of out of school children and poor access to basic social, economic and healthcare services in the country” Mr Kunle Olawoyin further explained.
The Media and Communications Manager noted that, Save the Children International nigeria’s girl champion, Purity Oriaifo said cultural, traditional and social practices encourage gender discriminatory norms against girls and women.
Purity Oriaifo therefore calls for the provision and the full implementation of policies and strategies to end the problem in nigeria.
On Child Rights Act, Oriaifo urged the government at all levels to prioritize the passage into law the Child Rights Act 2003, which would provide children with the necessary legal policy framework for seeking justice when their rights were denied or abused.
COV/USMAN MZ, JIGAWA