She Should Be Carrying Her Ideas, Not Her Baby

There are many things to love about Nigeria and others that need to change.  Growing up in Nigeria, I had classmates whose post-secondary school ambition was to get married and start a family.  Many of these young girls could not think of a different future. They didn’t have role models of women who had professional careers and significantly impacted society.

The worst part of this reality is the frequent news about old men marrying girls as young as eleven years.  There is a case of a 54-year-old man marrying a four-year-old girl in a traditional ceremony known as “Koripamo” in a State in southern Nigeria.

Part of the problem is that Nigeria has failed to clarify the “age of consent.”  Some laws stipulate 11 years, while others state 18 years.  Different parts of the country observe different ages.  Indeed, it is a shame that in the 21st century, any country would contemplate the age of consent to be eleven years.  Such laws encourage child brides and sex with minors.  Marriage at such a young age prevents girls from actualizing their life potential.

All influential voices should speak up against such practices.  Girls Across Borders (GAB) adds its voice to this call.  Girls Across Borders is a platform that connects girls for positive change and social impact. GAB is proud of the work organizations, such as Girls Not Brides, are doing to form a global partnership to end child marriages.  GAB will continue to add its voice to this campaign.

#EndChildMarriage