Abuja: The National Coalition of Civil Society to End Child Marriage has urged stakeholders to ensure girls have access to education, economic opportunities, and autonomy. Mr. Olorunfemi Olusegun, Co-chair of the FCT Coalition, made this call during a courtesy visit to the Community Leader of Gwarinpa in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the visit was part of the FCT chapter’s activities marking the ’16 Days of Activism’ campaign against sexual and gender-based violence. This annual campaign, held from November 25 to December 10, is aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing action to end violence against women and girls. Olusegun highlighted that violence against women is a global issue affecting millions, transcending countries and cultures. He described child marriage as a complex issue that necessitates a comprehensive approach for both prevention and response.
Olusegun stressed the need for young girls to have access to quality education and empowerment opportunities as a means to
support their families and reduce the likelihood of child marriage. He pointed out that girls without education are at a higher risk of being married off at a young age and emphasized the importance of community engagement and changing social norms to prevent child marriage.
Mrs. Chinyere Eyoh, Co-chair of the coalition, stated that the organization is actively working across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, focusing on various thematic areas to accelerate efforts to end child marriage. Eyoh explained that their advocacy and interventions extend from local to national levels and emphasized the significance of collaborating with community leaders, including traditional, religious, and peer group leaders, to address child marriage and violence against women and girls.
Mrs. Patience Aliede, Safeguarding Officer for Girl Child Freedom at the Grassroots, highlighted the need for a multi-faceted approach to tackle gender-based violence. This approach includes legal and institutional reforms, as well as cultural
and societal changes to address the underlying norms.
The District Head of Gwarinpa, Malam Umar Bayero, praised the coalition’s efforts and called for increased collaboration to empower women and girls, noting that there were no recorded cases of child marriage in the community. Mrs. Oluchi Uzodimma, Secretary to the Coalition, assured that women and girls would be supported in pursuing positive opportunities.