The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has disclosed that 39 per cent of women in Kano State are married earlier than the age of 18, above the nationwide common of 33.4 per cent.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, disclosed this at an occasion to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl-Child and the launch of the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan for Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria (2025–2030), organised by the Federal and state ministry of ladies Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF held on the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
Ur-Rehman who was represented by Mona Aika, mentioned baby marriage remained a grave menace to kids’s rights, depriving ladies of training, exposing them to safety dangers and limiting their future alternatives.
He cited the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which confirmed that roughly one in three younger ladies nationwide and almost one in two within the North-West and North-East have been married earlier than their 18th birthday.
According to him, Bauchi State recorded a prevalence of 74 per cent, Jigawa 72 per cent and Katsina 69 per cent, whereas Kano’s determine stood at 39 per cent.
He mentioned, “Behind every number is a girl with a voice, potential and dreams.”
According to him, ending baby marriage required addressing poverty, gender inequality, dangerous social norms and insufficient providers, whereas making certain that ladies remained in class and households had entry to healthcare, social safety and baby safety providers.
He counseled the federal authorities for launching the nationwide technique however burdened that its success would rely on satisfactory funding and implementation.
“A costed plan must become a financed and implemented plan, reflected in state priorities, budgets, strong services and measurable results,” he mentioned.
Ur-Rehman urged the states represented on the occasion to exhibit political dedication, present home funding and strengthen training, healthcare and safety programs to safeguard ladies.
While reaffirming UNICEF’s readiness to work with governments and different companions to finish baby marriage and shield ladies’ rights, he additionally referred to as for elevated faculty completion charges and larger participation of women in selections affecting their lives.
Earlier, in her welcome deal with, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry Aishatu Abdulkadir, mentioned ending baby marriage and violence towards kids required collective motion.
She mentioned the state authorities had prioritised training via initiatives, together with free and obligatory training, to make sure that kids had entry to studying alternatives.
Abdulkadir additionally urged stakeholders to attract on non secular and ethical rules that emphasise the safety of youngsters’s dignity, well being and future.
She mentioned defending kids from violence and maintaining ladies in class have been important to the event of Kano State and the North-West area.
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