• UNICEF, others urge protection for minors, investment in girl child

Poverty and entrenched social attitudes are driving many Nigerian girls out of school into early marriage, thereby demanding stronger government action to protect girls’ rights and keep them in school, Amnesty International (AI) has warned.

It added that poverty remained one of the major factors pushing families to marry off their daughters, particularly when parents lack the resources to keep them in school, with Nigeria having the highest rate of girl child marriage globally.

Speaking during a programme it organised in Yola, Adamawa State, to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, AI Nigeria’s Media and Communications Manager, DooshimaTsee, said the inability of many girls to complete their education has limited their ability to develop their potential and participate fully in society.

In the meantime, ahead of the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, the non-governmental Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI) has called for stronger laws and concrete measures to end child marriage, prevent abuse and protect girls’ rights.

In a statement yesterday, themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” HSSI President, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, urged governments, families and community leaders to prioritise the safety, education and empowerment of the girl-child.

According to Amnesty, some parents see child marriage as one of the few options in the face of economic hardship. She noted that Amnesty’s intervention was aimed not only at educating girls about their rights but also ensuring that they know where to seek help when those rights are violated.

Also, Amnesty facilitator, Rubecca Malgwi, noted that girls continue to face discrimination in education, household responsibilities, safety, freedom of expression and access to menstrual hygiene, with everyday experiences often determining whether they could remain in school.

Meanwhile, HSSI has stressed the need for practical interventions that safeguard their welfare and equip them with the confidence and opportunities to shape their futures. It disclosed that the Voice of the Girls Parliament helps young girls to understand their rights, express their concerns confidently and engage with those responsible for their welfare.

Noting that the initiative encourages girls to speak confidently and engage respectfully with adults and institutions responsible for their protection, she warned, however, that such respectful advocacy must not discourage girls from speaking out against abuse, intimidation or injustice.

Still on the Day of the Girl Child, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on parents, traditional rulers, governments and community stakeholders to intensify efforts to end child marriage and invest in the development of the girl child.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, made the call during the activities marking the celebration in Gombe State over the weekend, organised in collaboration with Gombe and Bauchi states.

According to her, ending child marriage requires coordinated interventions across education, health, nutrition and social policy, alongside deliberate investments in girls’ growth and development.

The UNICEF official also called on traditional rulers to take the lead in mobilising communities against child marriage and promoting the value of educating and empowering girls.

For their part, the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) in Ogun State has expressed concern at the growing number of out-of-school girls roaming the streets, which exposes them to the risk of human trafficking and abuse.

In a statement yesterday, the State Coordinator of NACTAL, Comrade Olufemi Olusola, regretted that despite the state government’s intervention in education and child protection, girls were still being used by parents or guardians to hawk during school hours.

He appealed to parents to desist from sending their daughters to hawk on the streets or forcing them into early marriages.

Similarly, the state chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) called for a renewed commitment to ending child marriage and investment in the rights, education, safety, and future of every girl child.

NAWOJ Chairperson, Morenikeji Sobaloju, stressed that every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, make informed choices, and fulfil her potential without fear, discrimination, or harmful cultural practices.

According to Ahmadu, girls should be able to report threats and seek help without fear of blame or retaliation, while the responsibility for their protection rests with adults and institutions.

Consequently, HSSI called on governments, traditional and religious leaders, parents, schools and civil society societies to incorporate girls’ perspectives into policies and programmes designed to protect their rights and promote their development.