When Girls Don’t Get To Choose: The High Cost of Child Marriage in Nigeria

By Girl Rising Student Ambassador, Habu Efonya

This morning, I woke to silence, no birds chirping, perhaps from restless thoughts. Clutching an old photo, I whispered, “Damn, my mother was a diva!” Her sharp nose, snatched waist, and vibrant glow leaped from the image. But the woman before me now is different. Where are those curves? What happened? Motherhood happened. Her once-firm body now wears stretch marks, badges of the life she gave me. A medical stitch in a local chemist in Jalingo, Taraba State in Nigeria costs 800 naira.  But what’s the price of a body that traded its shape for another human? Nothing, I suppose, just the priceless sacrifice of a woman who chose to give life.

My mother was lucky; she chose when to marry and when to have me. But millions of girls have no such choice. They’re forced into early marriages, pushed to bear children too young, and left to care for them alone.

My mother once shared hospital stories about girls, some barely 12, suffering from childbirth complications, like uncontrollable urination. Hearing these stories as a child, I didn’t grasp their gravity.  Now, I see the truth. 

In Nigeria, child marriage remains prevalent, with 44% of girls married before age 18—over 24 million child brides, ranking the country third globally (UNICEF Nigeria, 16 February 2024). Although recent data shows a decline to 30%, progress is uneven, particularly in rural areas, among the poorest households, and for girls with little or no education. In Northern Nigeria, legal challenges worsen the crisis. According to a 2014 African Human Rights Journal report, Tim S. Braimah explains, “While the Child Rights Act has sharp teeth, it has no bite because each state in Nigeria has to enact the Act under its own state laws before it is enforceable. This means that a social evil such as child marriage can be practiced in a state that is yet to pass the Child Rights Act as domestic law.” Recent research indicates that 11 Northern states have yet to domesticate the Act, allowing child marriage to persist. Beyond Nigeria, this global issue traps millions of girls in cycles of poverty, causing physical pain, lost education, and economic hardship.

Ending child marriage demands collective action to amplify girls’ voices and enforce stronger laws. At a Girl Rising virtual event, a nonprofit advocating for girls’ education, Astrid, a Future Rising fellow, scientist, documentary filmmaker, and UN-designated Land Hero, shared how she empowered women to share their stories by helping them to see the strength and resilience they carried, as seen in her film Women of the Mangroves. Their courage underscores the power of standing together, offering inspiration for tackling systemic issues like child marriage. By advocating for legal reforms and supporting girls’ education, we can break these cycles, ensuring every girl has the freedom to thrive.

Raising awareness about early marriage and its dangers is vital, including:

•Health Risks: Young bodies face complications like fistulas from childbirth.

•Lost Opportunities: Schooling ends, limiting futures.

•Economic Strain: Without support, girls struggle to provide for their children.

•Emotional Toll: Early marriage often brings trauma and isolation.

You may know the cost of medical stitches, but a girl forced into early marriage pays an immeasurable price. Support UNICEF, which fights child marriage, and Girl Rising, which empowers girls through education, by volunteering your time, advocating for policy change, or amplifying their campaigns on social media. Together, we can help girls shape their own futures.