NCWS Raises Alarm Over 24 Million Child Brides, Demands Tougher Laws

The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) has called for stricter enforcement of child protection laws and increased investment in girls’ education to tackle child marriage in Nigeria, warning that more than 24 million women and girls were married before turning 18.

The council made the call on Sunday to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, urging federal, state and local governments to strengthen efforts to end the practice and protect vulnerable girls.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the organisation said Nigeria’s commitment to ending child marriage by 2030 would remain difficult to achieve without adequate funding, effective implementation of existing laws and sustained community engagement.

Citing figures from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the NCWS said more than 24 million Nigerian women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday, placing the country among those with the highest numbers of child brides globally.

It also referenced the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, as reported by UNICEF in 2025, which put the proportion of women aged 20 to 24 who married before 18 at approximately 33.4 per cent.

The council said the prevalence approaches 50 per cent in the North-East and North-West, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in affected communities.

It warned that child marriage should not be regarded as a private family matter or a challenge confined to specific religious or ethnic groups, describing it as a national development issue with far-reaching consequences.

Poverty, Education Gaps Sustain Early Marriage

The NCWS identified poverty, inadequate access to essential services and weak protection systems as major factors contributing to child marriage.

It said girls from economically disadvantaged households were more likely to marry during adolescence than their counterparts from wealthier families.

The council also highlighted the health risks associated with adolescent pregnancy, including eclampsia and severe infections, noting that babies born to adolescent mothers face higher risks of premature birth and low birth weight.

It expressed concern about obstetric fistula, a serious childbirth injury associated with prolonged or obstructed labour that can leave affected women with lasting medical complications, stigma and social isolation.

According to the organisation, early marriage also deprives many girls of educational opportunities, limits their economic independence and weakens their ability to make decisions about their health and future.

The council cited estimates of approximately 7.6 million out-of-school girls in Nigeria, with a substantial proportion living in northern states.

It further referenced UNICEF figures indicating that women without formal education marry at a median age of 16.6 years, compared with 21.7 years for women who complete secondary education.

The NCWS said the figures reinforced the need to keep girls in school while providing financial assistance to families facing economic hardship.

It also cited a 2025 study involving UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, which estimated that investing $114 million in out-of-school girls in two northern states could generate benefits worth $2.5 billion.

The council said the projected returns demonstrated the economic value of investing in girls’ education and development.

Council Demands Stronger Enforcement of Child Rights Act

The NCWS called for the effective implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003, which establishes 18 as the minimum marriage age under the Act.

Although all 36 states have adopted the legislation, the organisation said weak enforcement continued to undermine efforts to protect children.

It urged authorities to strengthen accountability for those who arrange or facilitate unlawful marriages involving minors and improve access to justice for affected girls.

The council also called for specialised training for police officers, prosecutors, judges and customary and Sharia court officials on child protection laws.

It advocated functional family courts, free birth registration and compulsory registration of statutory, customary and religious marriages, with verification that both parties had attained the legal minimum age.

The organisation further appealed to 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 council, reviewing the provision would help address conflicting interpretations that could weaken legal safeguards for children.

Eight-Point Plan Targets Child Marriage

To accelerate progress towards ending child marriage, the NCWS outlined eight priority areas for government action.

The recommendations include enforcing the minimum marriage age of 18, reviewing the relevant constitutional provision, improving birth and marriage registration, and ensuring that girls complete secondary education in safe environments.

The council called for expanded school feeding programmes, conditional cash transfers, menstrual hygiene support and the recruitment of more female teachers.

It also recommended improved school security and opportunities for married girls and young mothers to return to education.

To address the economic pressures that contribute to early marriage, the organisation urged governments to provide targeted financial assistance to vulnerable households and expand skills acquisition and livelihood programmes for girls and their mothers.

It further demanded adequately funded child protection desks, helplines, safe shelters, free legal assistance and adolescent-friendly healthcare services.

Girls in displacement camps and conflict-affected communities, it said, require additional protection.

The NCWS also urged traditional rulers, imams, pastors and other community leaders to promote later marriage and protect girls’ rights through sustained engagement in local languages.

It called for the release of funds for the Costed National Action Plan to End Child Marriage and the adoption of corresponding state-level plans with dedicated budget allocations.

The council said governments should publish annual reports showing progress towards the 2030 target, with clear timelines, responsible institutions and measurable results.

‘A Girl’s Childhood Is Not Ours to Give Away’

The council urged parents and community leaders to consider the long-term consequences of early marriage, while acknowledging that poverty and concerns about girls’ safety sometimes influence family decisions.

It called on fathers, brothers, husbands and sons to support girls’ rights and urged journalists to sustain public awareness while reporting affected girls’ experiences responsibly.

The NCWS pledged to strengthen its advocacy through state chapters and affiliated organisations by engaging families and community leaders, identifying girls at risk and connecting them with education, healthcare and protection services.

It also promised to work with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and state governments to monitor implementation of the national action plan.

The organisation reaffirmed its campaign against vesico-vaginal fistula, which it began in 1985.

Its National President, Princess Edna D. D. Azura, said the campaign was not intended to blame particular families, regions or religious groups but to ensure that every child received the protection guaranteed by law.

“A girl’s childhood is not ours to give away,” Azura said, urging governments and Nigerians to safeguard 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, focusing on women’s welfare, maternal and child health, and the rights of girls.

The council maintained that ending child marriage requires more than legal provisions, stressing that effective enforcement, investment in education, economic support for families and sustained community participation are critical to protecting Nigerian girls and achieving the 2030 target.