The Kaduna State Government has called for stronger collaboration between government and non-governmental agencies to end child marriage and promote girls’ education.
The State Commissioner for Education, Professor Mohammed Bello, made the call during activities marking the International Day of the Girl Child in Zaria.
For many girls, childhood should be a time to learn, dream, and prepare for the future. But for some, that promise is cut short by early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and harmful social practices.
These concerns formed part of discussions during activities organised to examine the challenges confronting adolescent girls and identify ways to protect their rights.
Organisers stressed that investing in girls means ensuring access to education, empowerment opportunities, and health information needed to make informed decisions.
They insisted that girls should not be forced into marriage before they are ready, emphasising that education is essential to their development and participation in society.
The Commissioner for Education, Mohammed Bello, represented at the event, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting girls from early marriage and harmful practices.
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He highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies and non-governmental organisations to increase awareness and strengthen enforcement, particularly in rural communities where access to information remains limited.
The Gender Desk Officer of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board urged parents to prioritise their daughters’ education, describing it as an investment that benefits not only individual girls but also their families and society.
Participants stressed that ending child marriage requires cooperation across families and communities, with boys and men actively involved in changing attitudes toward girls’ education.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
