Some rights groups and gender advocates on Friday criticised the widespread child marriage in Northern Nigeria, calling for an end to the practice.

The groups, led by Prime Goals Initiative, made the call in Jos on Friday while briefing journalists during activities marking the end of 100 days of action initiatives they organised to end child marriage across northern states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Zamfara.

The Programme Officer, Prime Goals Initiative, Saadatu Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of other partners, stated that the 100 days of action initiative, in collaboration with Women in Leadership (WIL), particularly aimed to enlighten minors and community members about the dangers of child marriage, especially in northern Nigeria.

“This programme is an activism to enlighten minors against engaging in child marriage. Today marks the end of the 100-day activism, targeting Northern states where early child marriage is rampant,” Abdullahi said.

She cited a case in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, where a 14-year-old girl was rescued from child marriage in Mr. Ali Community.

“The girl’s parents gave her hand in marriage, despite her physical and mental immaturity. We intervened, took her to the hospital, and resolved the case,” Abdullahi said.

She said that during the hundred-day period, they sensitised communities and schools, educating children about the risks of child marriage.

“We visited several schools, enlightening students on the dangers of early marriage and its psychological, medical, and physical effects,” Abdullahi said.

Abdullahi urged Northern communities to abandon harmful traditions and poverty-driven child marriages.

“Tradition and culture shouldn’t justify taking children into marriage. Allow them to pursue education; there are organisations that sponsor children’s education,” she stated.

She emphasised that child marriage violates human rights, disrupts education, and increases risks of violence and health complications.

“Child marriage denies children their childhood, limits opportunities, and is a fundamental violation of human rights,” Abdullahi said.

In separate interviews, two minors, Safiya Mohammed and Abdulraham Abdulrazak, thanked the Prime Goals Initiative and its partners for organising the 100-day activism, which they said had positively impacted their lives.

“I have learnt so many things that will benefit my life as a minor during these 100 days of action initiatives. Now, I know that it is not good to engage in child marriage and I’m not going to involve myself in it”, Abdulrazak said. (The Guardian)

* PLS USE A PHOTO OF PARTICIPANTS AT A PRESS BRIEFING OR ADVOCACY MEETING

• Participants during a briefing in Jos marking 100 days of action to end child marriage in Northern Nigeria

* Option 2: USE A PHOTO OF A YOUNG GIRL IN SCHOOL UNIFORM IN A CLASSROOM (symbolising education as an alternative to early marriage).