The House of Representatives has urged the federal government of Nigeria to put measures in place to end child marriage in the country.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Khafilat Ogbara, made a call in a Motion On The International Day Of The Girl Child: End Child Marriage and Invest In The Girl Child.
While leading the debate on the motion, Mrs Ogbara said that the International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on 11 October to recognise the rights of girls, promote gender equality, and draw attention to the challenges confronting the girl child, including child marriage, gender-based violence, discrimination, and limited access to education and economic opportunities.
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She said that the theme of the 2026 celebration, “End Child Marriage and Invest in the Girl Child,” calls for an urgent and coordinated action to protect girls from harmful practices, uphold their fundamental rights, and provide them with the education, healthcare, skills, and opportunities necessary to reach their full potential.
“Concerned that child marriage remains a significant human rights, public health, educational, and socioeconomic challenge in Nigeria, disproportionately affecting girls in vulnerable communities and undermining their ability to enjoy childhood, complete their education, and participate fully in national development; further concerned that child marriage exposes girls to increased risks of early pregnancy, maternal and newborn health complications, gender-based violence, and poverty,” she said.
She said that the implementation of child rights legislation across Nigeria’s states remains essential to ensuring consistent protection for every child.
“Aware of Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which require measures to protect children from harmful practices, exploitation, and discrimination. Further acknowledges that ending child marriage requires a comprehensive approach involving the Federal Government, state governments, local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, development partners, and communities,” she said.
Mrs. Ogbara also said that it is believed that the National Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to promote laws, policies, and budgetary measures that safeguard children’s rights, strengthen the protection of vulnerable populations, and advance the welfare and development of Nigerian girls.
The motion called on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and relevant agencies, to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the House Committees on Women Affairs and Social Development, Education, Health, Human Rights and Justice to engage relevant ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organisations, and development partners to assess existing interventions, identify implementation gaps, and recommend legislative and budgetary measures to end child marriage and improve investment in the girl child.
The committee is to report its findings to the House in four (4) weeks.
