The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation has outlined plans to prioritize free education, vocational training, and adolescent healthcare to reduce child marriage and keep more Nigerian girls in school. According to the organisation's Director of National Women Coordination, Hon. Toyin Balogun, the proposed measures aim to address the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The organisation's plans include providing legal aid for vulnerable girls and protection for survivors of abuse.
The campaign organisation's plans are part of efforts to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on October 11. The 2026 observance is themed, “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls Rights.” Hon. Toyin Balogun, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, disclosed the plans in a statement on Monday. The proposed administration would replicate the free education policy implemented in Oyo State to reduce Nigeria’s high out-of-school population.
The free education policy would be complemented by vocational and artisanal training, particularly for girls whose schooling had been disrupted by early marriage. This would enable them to acquire skills to support themselves and their families. According to Balogun, the administration would also strengthen the implementation of existing child-protection laws and address gaps that leave girls vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and forced or early marriage.
The proposed government would introduce inclusive policies to address gaps in services for child brides and prioritise adolescent-responsive sexual and reproductive healthcare. Child-friendly justice mechanisms would be strengthened to enable girls to report violations safely and receive timely support. Additionally, legal aid and protection services would be expanded, particularly in poor, rural, remote, and underserved communities.
Survivors of abuse would be protected from retaliation, stigma, and further harm when seeking justice. Progress would be assessed by the number of girls protected and supported, as well as those able to remain in or return to school. Community sensitisation programmes would educate families and communities about the consequences of child marriage, including vesicovaginal fistula, maternal deaths, and neonatal mortality.
According to available data, 33.4 percent of young women in Nigeria were married before the age of 18. UNICEF had reported that 7.6 million Nigerian girls were out of school, with significant numbers in both the northern and southern parts of the country. Child marriage could interrupt a girl's education, compromise her health, limit her economic independence, and increase her vulnerability to violence and coercion.
Protecting girls from early marriage requires coordinated action by policymakers, families, communities, and government institutions. Poverty, harmful social norms, discrimination, and weak protection systems continued to limit girls’ opportunities. The Makinde-led administration's plans aim to address these challenges and promote the rights and well-being of Nigerian girls.
Key points
- The Makinde-led administration prioritizes free education and healthcare to reduce child marriage.
- The proposed administration would strengthen child-protection laws and provide legal aid for vulnerable girls.
- Community sensitisation programmes would educate families and communities about the consequences of child marriage.
