By Angela Atabo
The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) has called on governments, families and community leaders to intensify efforts to end child marriage and protect the rights of girls in Nigeria.
Princess Abijah Hamman-Obels, Director,The Electoral Hub, made the call in a statement to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, marked annually on Oct. 11.
Hamman-Obels said in spite of 15 years of global recognition of girls’ rights, many girls in Nigeria continued to face child marriage, interrupted education, early pregnancy, limited access to healthcare and exclusion from decision-making.
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She said this year’s theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”, underscored the urgent need to protect girls’ childhood, education, health and future.
According to her, child marriage goes beyond age, as it involves the denial of rights, opportunities and choices, often exposing girls to violence, early pregnancy and motherhood before they are physically and emotionally prepared.
She noted that adolescent girls faced increased risks of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, while pregnancy-related causes remained a leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19.
Hamman-Obels cited Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio, estimated at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, as a reason for urgent action to prevent early and forced pregnancies and improve access to quality, adolescent-friendly healthcare.
She said early motherhood could interrupt girls’ education, limit their economic opportunities and increase their vulnerability to dependency and poverty.
“No girl should lose her life because she was pushed into motherhood before she was ready. No girl should have to sacrifice her education and future for a marriage she did not choose,” she said.
The director stressed that Nigeria could not achieve inclusive and sustainable development while girls were denied opportunities to learn, participate and lead.
She said ending child marriage required more than awareness campaigns, urging authorities to strengthen laws and policies, ensure accountability, improve access to education and healthcare, and establish effective protection systems.
Hamman-Obels also called for greater investment in skills development, community engagement and economic empowerment to enable girls to participate meaningfully in national development.
She emphasised the need to protect girls with disabilities and those from marginalised communities, saying their voices must be heard and their opportunities expanded.
She also urged parents and families to keep girls in school, support their aspirations and reject practices that forced them into marriage or motherhood before they were ready.
She called on traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful social norms, while urging governments at all levels to enforce laws protecting girls from child marriage, violence and exploitation.
The Ministry of Education was urged to ensure that girls could enrol in, remain in and complete school in safe and inclusive environments, while the Ministry of Women Affairs was asked to strengthen programmes for preventing child marriage and supporting girls at risk.
Similarly, the Ministry of Health and relevant institutions were urged to expand access to confidential, quality and adolescent-friendly healthcare, including appropriate support for pregnant adolescents.
The Director called on civil society organisations to document rights violations, support girls at risk and hold duty-bearers accountable, while urging development partners to invest in sustainable, locally driven programmes that expand girls’ access to education, healthcare and leadership opportunities.
Hamman-Obels said IRIAD remained committed to advancing gender equity, women’s empowerment, human rights, civic participation and inclusive development through research, public education and evidence-based advocacy.
She said platforms such as the Women Collective Hub and Women Democracy and Accountability Network provided opportunities to strengthen participation, networking and leadership among women and girls.
“Investing in girls is not charity. It is a human rights obligation. It is an investment in healthier families and communities. It is an investment in inclusive leadership. It is an investment in Nigeria’s future,” she said.
She urged stakeholders to translate commitments to girls’ rights into concrete action, stressing that every girl deserved education, protection, healthcare and the freedom to determine her future. (NAN)
