Kaduna State Government has reassured its commitment towards ending issues surrounding child marriage across the state
The State acting Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, said this while declaring open a two-day experience sharing workshop on child marriage in Kaduna.
The workshop tittle “Experience Sharing was organized by Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development in collaboration with Development Research and Project Centres and Drawn Commissioners with a view to deliberate on issues related to child marriage in the Northwest.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe noted that,
child marriage in the North is one of the key challenges, hence the need for stakeholders to change the narratives and make progress toward ending child marriage in Nigeria, particularly in the zone.
According to her, Kaduna state government had recognizing the root of the problem which made it to prioritise human capital development to address the issue.
She said government has made the first twelve years of education free and compulsory across the state toward ensuring children acquire sound education.
Dr Balarabe described forceful marriage as harmful practice and a violation of human rights.
In a remark, the State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba described child marriage as a global issue and a harmful practice .
She advised that children should not be pushed into early marriage under the age of 18, adding that the practice brings to a devastating end the foundation of childhood.
Hajia Hafsat Baba explained that ending child marriage will boost efforts towards achieving the goals by improving access to education, encouraging economic growth, enhancing nutrition and food security, and improving maternal and child health.
The Commissioner said girls who marry before eighteen years are more likely to experience domestic violence and less likely to remain in school.
Hajiya Hafsat Baba stressed that the workshop was supported by Development Research and Projects Centre DRPC, that has been supporting Kaduna state since 2019.
Speaking also ,Aminu Babangida Program Coordinator , Global Innovative for Women and Children said they are working closely to see how the issue of child marriage are tackled in the community.
According to him, it is important to call the major stakeholders to intervene and address the issue of child marriage.
A representative from Katsina state, Hajiya Binta Kasim said issues regarding to early marriage has been on for a while but implementation has been the major challenge.
Hajiya Binta Kasim pointed out that, Katsina state had a lot of young girls who opt for early marriage as insecurity had made them orphans.
The workshop is being attended by the Commissioners of Women Affairs and Commissioners of Education from the seven northwestern states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara States.
COV/AMINU DALHATU