By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA | Media360Impact Report
The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) has called for urgent government action to end child marriage in Nigeria, warning that millions of girls continue to face early pregnancy, health complications, disrupted education and limited economic opportunities.
The council made the call on Sunday, October 11, 2026, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, urging governments at all levels to enforce the minimum marriage age of 18, strengthen child protection systems and support vulnerable families.
In a statement issued in Abuja under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” the NCWS said Nigeria could miss its 2030 target for ending child marriage without stronger enforcement of existing laws, adequate funding and sustained community engagement.
Citing UNICEF figures, the council said more than 24 million Nigerian women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday, placing Nigeria among the countries with the highest numbers of child brides worldwide.
The statement also referenced figures from the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, reported by UNICEF in 2025, indicating that about 33.4 per cent of women aged 20–24 were married before age 18. The prevalence is reportedly close to 50 per cent in the North-East and North-West.
The NCWS said child marriage should not be treated as a private family matter or a problem limited to particular communities, describing it instead as a national development challenge requiring coordinated action.
Poverty, Education and Health Risks
The council identified poverty, inadequate access to essential services and weak child protection mechanisms as factors contributing to early marriage.
It warned that child marriage can expose girls to serious health risks, including complications associated with adolescent pregnancy and childbirth.
The World Health Organization has identified increased risks of conditions such as eclampsia and serious infections among adolescent mothers. Their babies also face higher risks of premature birth and low birth weight.
The NCWS highlighted obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that can cause long-term medical complications, stigma and social isolation.
It added that early marriage can interrupt girls’ education, limit their independence and reduce their ability to make decisions about their health and future.
The council also raised concern over the number of girls who remain out of school, citing estimates of approximately 7.6 million out-of-school girls in Nigeria.
According to figures referenced in its statement, women without formal education marry at a median age of 16.6 years, compared with 21.7 years among women who complete secondary education.
The council called for increased investment in girls’ education and support for families facing economic hardship, arguing that keeping girls in school can help reduce the pressures that contribute to early marriage.
NCWS Demands Enforcement of Marriage Laws
Although all 36 states have adopted the Child Rights Act, the NCWS said implementation and enforcement remain major challenges.
Section 21 of the Child Rights Act 2003 sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage under the Act. The council called for stronger enforcement, improved access to justice and accountability for those who arrange or facilitate unlawful marriages involving children.
It urged authorities to train police officers, prosecutors, judges and customary and Sharia court officials on child protection laws. It also advocated functional family courts to improve access to justice for vulnerable children.
The council called on the National Assembly to review Section 29(4)(b) of the Constitution, which contains a provision deeming a married woman to be of full age for the purposes of that section.
According to the NCWS, addressing conflicting interpretations of the provision would strengthen legal protections against child marriage.
It also called for accessible birth registration and compulsory registration of statutory, customary and religious marriages, with verification that both parties have reached the legal minimum age.
Eight Measures Proposed to Protect Girls
The NCWS outlined eight priority areas for action, including enforcing the minimum marriage age, reviewing the constitutional provision, improving birth and marriage registration, and ensuring girls can complete secondary education in safe environments.
It advocated school feeding programmes, conditional cash transfers, menstrual hygiene support, more female teachers and stronger school security.
The council also urged authorities to create pathways for married girls and young mothers to return to education.
On poverty reduction, it recommended financial assistance for vulnerable households and skills acquisition and livelihood programmes for girls and their mothers.
Other proposals include adequately funded child protection desks, helplines, safe shelters, free legal assistance and adolescent-friendly healthcare.
The council said girls in displacement camps and conflict-affected communities require particular attention.
It further urged traditional rulers, imams, pastors and other community leaders to use local languages and community dialogue to promote later marriage and protect girls’ rights.
The organisation called for adequate funding of the Costed National Action Plan to End Child Marriage, dedicated budget lines for state-level action plans and annual public reports measuring progress towards the 2030 target.
It insisted that interventions should have clear timelines, identifiable implementing institutions and measurable results.
NCWS Calls on Parents and Community Leaders
Beyond government action, the council appealed to parents to consider the long-term consequences of early marriage, while acknowledging that poverty and concerns about girls’ safety can influence family decisions.
It urged fathers, brothers and other family members to support girls’ education, health and personal development rather than expose them to early marriage.
Traditional and religious leaders were also encouraged to use their influence to discourage the practice.
The NCWS called on journalists to sustain public attention on the issue while reporting affected girls’ experiences responsibly and protecting their dignity.
Council Pledges Continued Advocacy
The council said it would work through its state chapters and affiliated organisations to support community engagement, identify girls at risk and connect them with education, healthcare and protection services.
It also pledged to work with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and state governments to monitor the national action plan and report findings.
The NCWS reaffirmed its longstanding campaign against vesico-vaginal fistula, which it said began in 1985.
Its National President, Princess Edna D. D. Azura, said the campaign was not intended to blame families, regions or faiths, but to ensure that every child enjoys the protection guaranteed by law.
“A girl’s childhood is not ours to give away,” Azura said, urging governments and Nigerians to protect girls’ health and allow them to determine their futures when they are ready.
Established in 1959, the NCWS is an umbrella body for women’s organisations in Nigeria, with a longstanding focus on women’s welfare, maternal and child health, and girls’ rights.
As Nigeria marks the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, the council’s appeal underscores the need to turn existing laws and policy commitments into practical results.
It maintains that government accountability, family support, community participation and sustained investment in girls’ rights must work together to end child marriage.
Source: National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), via a statement published by Weekenders Magazine.
