Nigeria’s Federal Government has unveiled a sweeping set of policies to end child marriage, gender-based violence, and female genital mutilation, while pledging to reach over 8.6 million girls with education and digital literacy programm
The Federal Government has launched a major push to protect Nigerian children, particularly adolescent girls, unveiling multiple national frameworks targeting child marriage, gender-based violence, and female genital mutilation on National Children’s Day.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, speaking at a High-Level Inter-Generational Dialogue themed “Her Voice, Her Power,” declared a new era of intentional governance for children.
“In this new Nigeria, we are intentional about one principle: the voices of both our girls and our boys must not only be heard — they must influence outcomes,” she said.
The minister cited alarming statistics: one in three Nigerian girls is married before 18, rising to nearly 48 percent in some rural areas, while 30 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence.
“When a girl is subjected to child marriage or violence, the nation loses productivity, potential, and long-term economic value,” she said.
A World Bank-supported programme is expected to reach 8.6 million girls across 18 states.
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