By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs has written to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, seeking his support to stop the planned marriage of 100 orphan girls in Niger State.
Additionally, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye also filed a legal action to stop the planned marriage, believed to enjoy the backing of Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji.
The Speaker had last week announced that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Mariga constituency project.
He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled for May 24 and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.
In defence to the public outcry that trailed the announcement, the speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the girls into marriage.
But briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will be carried out.
She said the ministry will take responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.
“The Ministry has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to put a hold on the sponsored marriage until further investigation is carried out with a view to ensuring that the welfare of the orphans are adequately covered,” a statement by the minister’s spokesman, Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, read.
The Minister while acknowledging the good gesture of the Speaker urged him to beyond offsetting the dowry, consider the future of the children by finding out whether they prefer marriage to education and empowerment.
“Barr Uju also stated that in line with its mandate under the Child’s Rights Act, the Ministry has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to put a hold on the sponsored marriage until further investigation is carried out with a view to ensuring that the welfare of the orphans are adequately covered.
“The Minister further restated the Ministry’s commitment to the protection of the lives of the women, children and the vulnerable in society, in line with its Mandate”, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Ohaeri Osondu Joseph stated.
Heritage Times (HT) observed that child marriage in the northern region of Nigeria is recurrent, including among politically exposed individuals.
A report in 2021 launched by Save the Children advocacy group revealed that a staggering 78% of girls in the northern region of Nigeria are married before the age of 18.
According to the report, in Nigeria as a whole, 44% of girls are married before their 18th birthday and the country records as one of the highest rates of child marriage globally.
Last year, a former governor of Zamfara state, Senator Ahmad Yerima defended his marriage to a 14-year-old Egyptian girl, which sent shockwaves across the globe in 2010 when it first came to light
Yerima during a television interview said the Egyptian bride was older and was in the process of obtaining a master’s degree.
