The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has disclosed that 39 per cent of women in Kano State are married earlier than the age of 18, above the nationwide common of 33.4 per cent.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, disclosed this at an occasion to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl-Child and the launch of the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan for Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria (2025–2030), organised by the Federal and state ministry of ladies Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF held on the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
Ur-Rehman who was represented by Mona Aika, mentioned youngster marriage remained a grave risk to kids’s rights, depriving ladies of training, exposing them to safety dangers and limiting their future alternatives.
He cited the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which confirmed that roughly one in three younger ladies nationwide and almost one in two within the North-West and North-East had been married earlier than their 18th birthday.
According to him, Bauchi State recorded a prevalence of 74 per cent, Jigawa 72 per cent and Katsina 69 per cent, whereas Kano’s determine stood at 39 per cent.
He mentioned, “Behind every number is a girl with a voice, potential and dreams.”
According to him, ending youngster marriage required addressing poverty, gender inequality, dangerous social norms and insufficient providers, whereas guaranteeing that ladies remained in class and households had entry to healthcare, social safety and youngster safety providers.
He recommended the federal authorities for launching the nationwide technique however burdened that its success would depend upon satisfactory funding and implementation.
“A costed plan must become a financed and implemented plan, reflected in state priorities, budgets, strong services and measurable results,” he mentioned.
Ur-Rehman urged the states represented on the occasion to reveal political dedication, present home funding and strengthen training, healthcare and safety methods to safeguard ladies.
While reaffirming UNICEF’s readiness to work with governments and different companions to finish youngster marriage and defend ladies’ rights, he additionally known as for elevated college completion charges and larger participation of women in selections affecting their lives.
Earlier, in her welcome deal with, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry Aishatu Abdulkadir, mentioned ending youngster marriage and violence towards kids required collective motion.
She mentioned the state authorities had prioritised training by means of initiatives, together with free and obligatory training, to make sure that kids had entry to studying alternatives.
Abdulkadir additionally urged stakeholders to attract on non secular and ethical rules that emphasise the safety of kids’s dignity, well being and future.
She mentioned defending kids from violence and protecting ladies in class had been important to the event of Kano State and the North-West area.
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