Abuja, Nigeria – “We are committed to ensuring that every adolescent girl, regardless of her age, culture or background has access to equitable and quality education and importantly expresses her right to live and not be a child bride [decide when she wants to get married],” said the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, during his visit to Junior Secondary School Garki.

Ban Ki-moon on his two day visit -23 and 24 August - to Nigeria, said this when he met with adolescent girls from one of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, supported safe spaces in Nigeria’s North West. The Secretary-General interacted with two groups of students, those receiving formal education on one hand and others being taught beyond the classroom.

His interaction with the girls was significant because about 2 in every 5 girls in Nigeria will be married by the age of 18.

Early marriage prevalent in the North

In the North, where early marriage is most prevalent, by age 16 half of adolescent girls are married and expected to bear a child within the first year of marriage. The consequence of this is reflected in the regions high maternal mortality rate, the highest in the country and its substantial contribution to the growing cases of obstetric fistula worldwide.

The girls who are beneficiaries of the UNFPA’s “Adolescent Girl Initiative“ programme said “the girl child has been treated unfairly. We are lucky to be here today and are happy at the new opportunities given to us by the United Nations system, but we still mourn the loss of what we could have been. We raise our voices today and ask you to protect the right of the girl child by educating her today”.

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, who was accompanied by Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UNFPA and other high ranking United Nations (UN) officials, said upholding the inherent rights of the girl child is a collective effort, and the UN is working closely with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that it is upheld.

The Fund through its “Adolescent Girl Initiative” programme is addressing the different challenges faced by the girl child in Nigeria, by creating a safe space for the girl child to learn in and beyond the classroom. Today and every day, said Dr. Osotimehin, UNFPA is taking action to protect the health and rights of adolescent girls; through comprehensive sexuality education; through reproductive health counselling and through youth participatory platforms. We will not stop until the potential of every young girl is fulfilled and she is treated with equity and fairness.

The event was attended by representatives of the Federal ministry of Education, heads of agencies, the media and other key stakeholders.

Source: Bahijjatu Bello-Garko and Ololade Daniel, UNFPA Nigeria