Let’s Save The Nigeria’s Girl Child From Abuse

On February 4^th 2019, Nigeria once again attracted the world’s attention on its lackadaisical way of handling child marriage as it was reported that the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has taken up the case of a 15-year-old girl, simply identified as Chinwe, married to a 56-year-old man, Izuchukwu Igwilo.

We live in a country where deep issues relating to humans needs to be hammered on in order for it to get to the right source who hopefully will work on such pressing issues. This dangerous act is fast becoming a norm which is apparently endangering the lives of our girl child. It is non-thinkable when men lay with their supposed daughters or grand-daughters! In fact, the situation is so alarming that the Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Magdalene Ohenhen, on Wednesday February 6^th 2019, raised the alarm over the rising cases of men having sex with their daughters!

The increasing rate of child marriage is a distressing incidence that requires urgent attention. While Chinwe’s case has really gone deep as she already has a baby from the unlawful wedlock, it is noteworthy that the Anambra State government is already taking steps to address the case. However, every state in Nigeria and the federal government needs to do more. It is really painful and disgraceful how underaged girls are being sold into the hands of men of questionable characters such as Izuchukwu Igwilo who because of their self-centered pleasure endanger the lives of these girls while the ambiguity of our legal instrument ensures that the menace of Child marriage will not be completely eradicated anytime soon.

The abuse has reached an alarming level as research made it clear that 43% of Nigerian girls are married off before the age of 18 while 17% are married before they turn 15, Nigeria is recorded to be the 11^th highest nation in the world for number of child marriages!

Each passing day, hospitals or health care centers record account of girl child with pregnancy and the result of this on their health. They gave account of increased rate of sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, malaria, death during childbirth, and obstetric fistulas. Girl’s offspring are at increased risk for premature birth and death as neonates, infants or children.

All these and many more are the negative effects of child’s marriages. We by ourselves sell off our girl child who definitely are the leaders of tomorrow. Nigerians use abject poverty, cultural traditions, religious and social pressures, fear of remaining unmarried, illiteracy, and perceived inability of women as an excuse to wreak serious havoc and unending stigma to our girl child.

It is unfortunate that while the Child Rights Act specifies the minimum age for marriage to be 18, the inconsistencies of the Nigerian legal system and its history of contradicting itself means the Matrimonial Causes Act and Marriage Act would specify different ages from the one provided by the Child Rights Act. The Nigerian government, under international, regional and national law, also has responsibility to address the abuse of young girls. Nigeria is party to all the core human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and Convention of Consent to Marriage. Nigeria has also ratified and domesticated the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights while the Convention on the Rights of the Child has also been endorsed by Nigeria.

It is clear from the foregoing that Nigeria does not lack the necessary institutional and legal frameworks to address the abuse of girl child, these frameworks have, at best remained mere policies – in reality, considerable obstacles remain.

It is time to call a spade a spade. The old adage that says it is better to allow a sleeping dog lie can no longer hold water in the face of teething challenges and problems occasioned by inhumanity of man to man. We must at all time and in all places no matter the cost to us stand for justice, equity and fairness.

The right measures should be taken to bring resolution to child marriage and other forms of child abuse. Empowering the girl child with necessary information, sensitisation and skills, provision of economic support such as finances to girls and their families, provision of free education and competent materials which aids learning should be the starting point. Community members should also endeavor to report anyone promoting child marriage and strict disciplinary actions should be taken. Conclusively, Policy makers should at their best of knowledge make ending child marriage a top priority while other approaches should be continually looked into to delay or eradicate this immoral act.

Nigerian politicians, irrespective of party affiliation, need to change their ways. There is a limit to what outsiders can do to address the plight of the girl child being abused daily. The time has come for a reality check and the country appears to be late already.

Kehinde Akinwale

Serving Corps member with Africa Dialogue Mission

Ondo

Nigeria

08177097732