NAN-HG-16
Marriage
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Oct. 19, 2016 (NAN) The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christopher Thornley, says his home government is committed to ending child, early, and forced marriages in Nigeria.
Thornley made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja at a reception to mark the official opening of “Girls’ Voices: Speaking Out Against Child Marriage.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is visual exhibition highlighting global ssue of child, early and forced marriages.
The envoy, who noted that the impacts of the practice were profound and far-reaching, said that the Canadian Government had invested finacially in addressing the challenge in Nigeria
He descsribed child marriage as “violation of girls’ rights which disrupted their access to education, jeopardised their health and makes them vulnerable to violence.’’
“We are pleased that ending child marriage by 2030 is one of the Sustainable Development Goals; a goal that Canada is making concrete contributions to achieve.
“Since October 2013, Canada has invested over 80 million dollars in targeted funding to prevent child, early, and forced marriages.
“In Nigeria, we are investing three million dollars with Save the Children and 3.5 million dollars with UNFPA.
“We are also funding small projects with Girls Voices Initiative and the African Social and Development Foundation,” Thornley said.
The envoy pointed out that though these and other projects were making a difference, there was still so much to do.
In her remarks, Mrs Aisha Alhassan the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development said that child marriage was endemic in Nigeria.
She said that 45 per cent of girls were married off at the age of 15.
She said that her ministry was collaborating with other ministries and civil society organisations to put an end to child marriage.
“The roadmap for ending child marriage has been developed and is being implemented,” she said, adding that early and forced marriages of young girls affected their education.
The minister listed some of the causes of child marriage to include: poverty, cultural traditions, and religious laws that allowed child marriage.
According to her, other causes include social pressures, regional customs, fear of remaining unmarried, illiteracy and perceived inability of women to earn money.
While commending the Canadian Government for its efforts in addressing the problem, Alhassan said that her ministry was also collaborating with relevant stakeholders, to champion the “End Child Marriage Campaign.” (NAN)
IAA/ORO/AEA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Archibong Asuquo