In Nigeria, a mass wedding supported by the government has ignited a heated discussion about Child Marriage and education. Advocates and the Women’s Minister are working together to stop the event, promoting girls’ Education and financial independence as ways to prevent forced marriages caused by poverty. The proposed state-sponsored mass wedding for 100 Nigerian girls and young women has ignited a contentious discussion on child Marriage and female education, leading to urgent attempts to prevent the event from happening.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Nigeria’s women’s minister, is spearheading the effort to halt this wedding set to be held on May 24, 2024. She explained that she has taken legal action by filing a court injunction to prevent it from happening. Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized that the wedding goes against Nigeria’s laws, specifically the Child Rights Acts and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, which outlaw forced marriages for women and girls. In the interview, the minister declared that this marriage violates the rights of girls and women, whom she represents, and she has intervened to stop it.
The young brides had lost their parents to violent attacks by bandits.
Rights advocates have strongly criticized the situation, as many of the girls involved are suspected of being underage. Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the speaker of the state assembly in Niger, a Muslim-majority state, revealed his intention to support a wedding and cover the dowries. The young brides had tragically lost their parents to violent attacks by bandits and Kidnapping groups in the conservative state in northern Nigeria. Some Muslim clerics have supported the marriage as a benevolent gesture towards orphans, but opponents argue that it goes against Nigeria’s efforts to safeguard the rights of children and women.
However, the individual who initially offered to host the event has since retracted their invitation, prompting rights organizations to launch petitions that have garnered significant support. The ceremony’s future remains uncertain with the possibility of a different sponsor stepping in, as local Muslim leaders have made a firm commitment to oppose the minister’s plans. In her statement, Kennedy-Ohanenye mentioned that even though the traditional rulers of the state had promised to cancel the wedding, she planned to continue seeking an injunction as a precautionary measure.
Minister emphasized that marriage is not a form of empowerment.
She clarified that her issue was with illegality, not tradition or religion, and her goal was to prevent the event from taking place. During the meeting with the leaders, there was a conversation about school enrolment for some girls and setting up bank accounts for others to begin working and earning. The minister emphasized that marriage is not a form of Empowerment and does not have the power to transform someone’s life. In fact, it can exacerbate challenges if there is a lack of financial resources to support one’s family.
Despite the legal minimum marriage age of 18 set by the Child Rights Act in Nigeria, many underage girls in northern states still get married. In fact, over half of women between the ages of 20 and 24 are married before they reach 18. According to Nerida Nthamburi of Girls Not Bride, laws alone are insufficient in preventing early marriage as cultural traditions continue to encourage the practice. In regions of the north, girls are married off as soon as they start menstruating or reach puberty, she explained. Nthamburi suggested that the government involve traditional and community leaders in addressing this issue.
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More families are turning to marrying off their daughters in order to alleviate financial hardships caused by high Poverty rates. To combat this issue, she urged the government to prioritize funding for initiatives that promote girls’ education and resilience, arguing that education is the most effective solution to prevent forced marriages. Nthamburi stated that ensuring families are financially stable decreases the chances of them resorting to selling their daughters and increases the likelihood of being able to provide education for their children.