Ezekwesili Calls for 18 as Minimum Age of Marriage to Protect Girls

Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education in Nigeria, is urging African governments to set 18 years as the minimum age for marriage. She believes this is crucial to protect girls from child marriage, which she says threatens their education and Nigeria’s overall development.

Ezekwesili made her comments on Sunday, coinciding with the International Day of the Girl Child. She emphasized the importance of support from traditional and religious leaders in the fight against child marriage.

According to Ezekwesili, child marriage is a significant barrier to girls’ education. She noted that in Nigeria, about 23.6 million women and girls were married before turning 18, the highest number in West and Central Africa. In some northern states, such as Jigawa, the situation is dire, with 78% of women aged 20 to 49 married before 18.

She warned that failing to address this issue could cost Nigeria billions in lost productivity and increased health risks. A report from Columbia University estimates that the economic losses due to child marriage could reach $175 billion annually.

Ezekwesili called for stronger legal protections for girls and highlighted the need for local funding to address this issue as foreign aid declines. She also stressed the importance of tracking girls’ education and marriage rates to hold governments accountable.

She expressed hope that progress is possible, noting that 68 million child marriages have been prevented over the past 25 years through education and legal reforms. Ezekwesili is committed to ensuring that ending child marriage is a priority in Africa’s educational transformation efforts over the next decade.