The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Saturday disclosed that there are nearly 25 million child brides in Nigeria, with Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara states having the highest figures.
UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, who disclosed this in Abuja at a National Dialogue on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria, said that the situation is worrisome.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the online news platform of the Federal Government, Munduate said that child marriage is a harmful practice under international human rights law often associated with severe forms of violence against women and girls.
According to her, Bauchi State has 74 per cent child brides, Jigawa State has 72 per cent of its female children getting married before the age of 18, Katsina State has about 69 per cent of child brides and Zamfara State has about 67 per cent of its female children getting married before 18.
She said:
“In Nigeria, there are nearly 25 million child brides, with alarming prevalence rates in states such as Bauchi that has 74 per cent child brides.
“Also, Jigawa has 72 per cent of its children getting married before the age of 18, Katsina has about 69 per cent and Zamfara has nearly 67 per cent of its children getting married.’’
While calling for more investment in education for all children, the country representative said the practice of child marriage not only violates human rights, but also hinders the country’s social and economic development.