By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to strengthen efforts to end child marriage and protect girls from practices that undermine their education, health and future prospects.
The House also mandated its committees on Women Affairs and Social Development, Education, Health, Human Rights and Justice to review existing interventions against child marriage and recommend legislative and budgetary measures to address identified gaps within four weeks.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled “The International Day of the Girl Child: End Child Marriage and Invest in the Girl Child,” sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Khafilat Ogbara.
Leading the debate, Ogbara called for stronger government action to end child marriage, warning that the practice continues to violate girls’ rights and limit their opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She said the International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11, provides an opportunity to draw attention to challenges facing girls, including discrimination, gender-based violence, child marriage and limited access to education and economic opportunities.
The 2026 celebration is themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in the Girl Child.”
In adopting the motion, lawmakers expressed concern that child marriage remained a major human rights, public health, educational and socioeconomic challenge in Nigeria, particularly among girls in vulnerable communities.
They noted that the practice deprives girls of their childhood, disrupts their education and exposes them to early pregnancy, maternal and newborn health complications, gender-based violence and poverty.
Ogbara stressed the need for effective implementation of child protection laws across the states, noting that Nigeria’s obligations under international and regional instruments, including 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, require the protection of children from harmful practices, exploitation and discrimination.
She said ending child marriage required coordinated action by federal, state and local governments, alongside traditional and religious leaders, parents, development partners and local communities.
The lawmaker also underscored the National Assembly’s responsibility to strengthen child protection legislation, support effective policies and ensure adequate budgetary allocations for programmes that protect girls and expand their opportunities.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to work with the ministries responsible for education, health, social welfare and justice, as well as relevant agencies, to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.
It also directed the relevant committees to engage ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to assess existing interventions, identify implementation gaps and recommend appropriate legislative and budgetary measures.
The committees are expected to submit their findings and recommendations to the House within four weeks.
Child marriage can have lasting consequences for girls, including the interruption of their education, increased exposure to pregnancy-related health risks and reduced economic opportunities. Addressing the practice requires not only effective legislation and enforcement but also access to education, community engagement and support for vulnerable families.
Although Nigeria’s child protection framework includes the Child Rights Act, its adoption and implementation have varied across states, underscoring the need for sustained coordination among the different levels of government to ensure nationwide protection for children