By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The AGWA Development Initiative has called on governments, parents, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and community stakeholders to intensify efforts to end child marriage and invest in the education, health, protection and leadership development of girls across Nigeria.
The call was made during a webinar organised by the organisation to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11, under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
The Executive Director of AGWA Development Initiative, Mrs Adeola Ademefun, PhD (iv), a sustainable development goals expert, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls through education, empowerment, skills development, mentorship, advocacy and strategic campaigns.
In her keynote address, Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, who leads the Business Development and Innovation Directorate at ActionAid Nigeria, described child marriage as a violation of fundamental human rights that deprives girls of education, bodily autonomy, health, security and the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
She identified poverty, gender inequality, harmful social norms, insecurity, climate-related pressures and weak enforcement of protective laws as major factors driving child marriage in Nigeria.
Ilochi-Kanny stressed that ending the practice requires moving beyond awareness campaigns to sustained investments in girls and the communities in which they live.
The webinar also highlighted the devastating consequences of early marriage, including school dropout, early pregnancy, maternal health complications, gender-based violence and reduced economic opportunities.
Participants emphasised the need for families to see girls as individuals whose potential deserves investment rather than regarding them as economic burdens or commodities.
During an intergenerational panel discussion, social impact strategist, Barrister Adesuwa Iluobe; digital health professional, Ajayi Oluwatosin; and biotechnology and molecular biology student, Toluwanimi Olatundun, called for stronger community accountability, accessible reporting mechanisms, safe spaces for girls and effective enforcement of laws protecting children.
The panellists stressed that parents remain a critical first line of protection against child marriage, while boys and men must actively challenge harmful gender stereotypes and support girls’ rights to education, leadership and informed decision-making about their futures.
They also called for respectful engagement with traditional and religious institutions to promote lasting changes in social attitudes and strengthen community efforts to protect girls.
Participants further underscored the importance of strengthening the implementation of the Child Rights Act and other relevant legal protections, alongside practical economic support for vulnerable families.
They noted that legislation alone would not end child marriage without effective enforcement structures, sustained community awareness and accessible support services for girls at risk.
The webinar concluded with a call for collective action, including community-led sensitisation, sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households, stronger collaboration among civil society organisations and increased investment in girls’ education, menstrual health, skills development, mentorship, leadership and career pathways.
Reiterating its commitment to promoting an inclusive society, AGWA Development Initiative said every girl must be empowered to exercise her rights, remain in school, develop her abilities and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting her life.
“Her future matters. Her dreams matter. Her rights matter,” the organisation declared.
It urged stakeholders to translate commitments made during the webinar into concrete actions that protect girls from child marriage and create opportunities for them to thrive.
AGWA Development Initiative is committed to advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls through education, skills development, mentorship, advocacy and strategic partnerships across Nigeria and globally.
