Jane Salihu
The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) has called for stronger measures to end child marriage and protect girls’ access to education and healthcare, warning that early marriage and pregnancy continue to threaten their health, rights and future.
The organisation made the call in a statement to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11, with this year’s theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”
IRIAD said Nigeria must move beyond public declarations on girls’ rights to effective implementation of policies and laws that protect them from early marriage, interrupted education, violence and other harmful practices.
It noted that child marriage goes beyond age, describing it as an issue involving rights, power, opportunity and the future of girls who are often forced into responsibilities before they are physically and emotionally ready.
According to the organisation, early marriage frequently results in school dropout, early pregnancy, reduced economic opportunities and increased vulnerability to violence and poverty.
IRIAD also expressed concern over the maternal health risks associated with adolescent pregnancy, noting that pregnancy-related causes remain a leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19.
Citing an estimated maternal mortality ratio of 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in Nigeria in 2020, the organisation stressed the need to protect girls from early and forced pregnancies while expanding access to quality, adolescent-friendly healthcare.
It warned that the consequences of early motherhood extend beyond the girls themselves, as babies born to adolescent mothers also face increased health risks, while young mothers are more likely to experience disrupted education and limited economic prospects.
“No girl should lose her life because she was pushed into motherhood before she was ready. No girl should have to sacrifice her education and future for a marriage she did not choose,” the statement said.
The organisation argued that Nigeria could not achieve inclusive and sustainable development while girls were denied opportunities to learn, participate in decision-making and assume leadership positions.
It maintained that girls should be recognised not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes but as rights-holders capable of contributing to national development as professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators and community leaders.
To address the challenges, IRIAD called on governments at all levels to strengthen and enforce laws protecting girls from child marriage, violence and exploitation, while investing in education, healthcare, social protection and skills development.
It urged parents and families to keep girls in school and support their aspirations, while calling on traditional and religious leaders to challenge harmful cultural practices that encourage child marriage.
The organisation also tasked education authorities with ensuring that girls can enrol in, remain in and complete school in safe and supportive environments.
It called on the health sector to expand access to confidential and quality adolescent healthcare and ensure that pregnant adolescents receive timely and appropriate medical attention.
Civil society organisations and development partners were also urged to strengthen community education, support girls at risk, document rights violations and invest in sustainable programmes that promote girls’ education, protection and leadership.
IRIAD further stressed the need to include girls with disabilities and those from marginalised communities in policies and programmes designed to advance their rights and opportunities.
The statement, signed by Princess Abijah Hamman-Obels, Director of The Electoral Hub, said the organisation would continue to promote gender equity, women’s empowerment, human rights, civic participation and inclusive development through research, public education and evidence-based advocacy.
It added that platforms such as the Women Collective Hub and Women Democracy and Accountability Network provide opportunities to strengthen participation, leadership and collective action among women and girls.
Marking 15 years since the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of the Girl Child in 2011, IRIAD said the anniversary should serve as a reminder that recognition of girls’ rights must translate into concrete action.
“Investing in girls is not charity. It is a human rights obligation. It is an investment in healthier families and communities. It is an investment in inclusive leadership. It is an investment in Nigeria’s future,” the statement said.
The organisation called on all stakeholders to work towards a society where every girl has access to education, healthcare, protection and the freedom to determine her future.
It concluded with a call to end child marriage, invest in girls’ rights and protect their futures.
