Children for Marriage

The mention of Child Bride/ Marriage from countries of the West or their counterparts would ordinarily interest and win the approval of many Child Right advocates. But no, the case is different in this part of our world.

The reality being that it was not photoshop in motion; rather, our Lawmakers actually sat to ponder the issue of marrying the girl child off. Well it all started with a constitutional amendment concerned with defining the conventional age of majority as 18 and amending the clause that indicated the consideration of females as fully aged not minding their real age if they are married. This however pricked the curiosity of a husband to a child, the Honourable Senator Yerima.

Yes, remember when he brought in a budding teenager from Egypt to put a ring on it? Well that is just the peak of the ice because children may soon be leaving school to become house wives and frankly that might be the terrifying thought that made furious Stella Damasus’ viral video, aside other more concerted reactions.

But wait, let’s stare reality at the face. Are we denying the fact that child marriage hasn't been more like one of our dirty linens as a country? Are we just coming to the realization that children are actually given away for old men to keep as wives? Or are we just speaking out now because it is being brought to national front? Statistics by UNICEF provides that 39% of Nigerians girls are at the moment married before their 18^thbirthday.

So suddenly we are up and doing with the likes of #ChildNotBride on social media to oppose the actions of the senate on child marriage, when the act is actually being done almost on a daily basis.  

Aside other laws that Nigeria and her leaders have violated, the God given right of a child is one of them. Though Child marriage is banned under the Nigerian law, one wonders why that constitutional clause exists in the first place.