Kwara Government Partners with CSO to End Child Marriage
The Kwara State government has committed to protecting the girl-child from early marriage, pledging to take strong action to address the issue.
In a bid to combat child marriage, the state government has teamed up with the National Coalition of Civil Society to End Child Marriage in Nigeria. This partnership aims to discourage early marriage and safeguard the future of young girls in the state.
Kwara’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, made this pledge during a meeting with members of the coalition in his office in Ilorin, the state capital.
Alabi stressed the urgent need to protect girls from early marriage, highlighting its detrimental effects on their mental health and long-term goals. “Girls under 18 are not equipped to handle marriage, which demands compromise and commitment. Early marriage steals their dreams, and we must protect them,” he stated.
The Deputy Governor also underscored the importance of enforcing laws against child marriage and assured the coalition of the government’s support through the State’s Ministry of Social Development. He emphasized that the state would continue to implement progressive measures to protect girls.
Earlier, the national co-chair of the coalition, Mr. Kolawole Olatosimi, praised the state government for its proactive stance in enforcing policies that protect the girl-child. He acknowledged Kwara as one of the leading states in implementing such initiatives and urged the government to strengthen legal protections for those at risk and victims of child marriage.
Olatosimi called for budgetary allocations to fund programs aimed at empowering girls through education and skills acquisition. He also promised the coalition’s continued support for government initiatives to improve the lives of women and girls.
At the end of the meeting, Olatosimi presented a policy report and analysis on girl-child protection for the government’s consideration.
