Nigeria will have Highest Number of Child Brides by 2050 – UNICEF

Nigerian Maimuna Abdullahi, aged 14,
who made world headlines this 2014 when she
fled her physically abusive marital home after a
year of marriage, in order to finish her
education.]
In its latest report on child marriage, published
this July 2014, UNICEF - United Nations
Children's Fund projects that Nigeria will have
the highest number of child brides by 2050. There
are currently more than 700 million women alive
today were married before their 18th birthday
and more than one in three (about 250 million)
entered into union before age 15, the report
states.
Boys are also married as children, but girls are
disproportionately affected.
In Nigeria
Although child marriage has seen a steady decline
in Nigeria, UNICEF predicts that due to
population growth, the rise in number of child
marriages will not be offset.
Facts & Figures on Child Marriage in Nigeria
"
"…girls are often married to considerably older
men. In Mauritania and Nigeria, more than half
of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 who are
currently married have husbands who are 10 or
more years older than they are."
"In Africa, Nigeria is expected to have the
largest absolute number of child brides. The
country has seen a decline in child marriage of
about 1 per cent per year over the past three
decades. At this pace, the total number of child
brides is expected to double by 2050."
Debate on child marriage gained traction in 2013
in Nigeria due to the #ChildNotBride social media
campaign, which arose due to discussions on a
bill to determine a "full age" for a Nigerian who
wants to renounce his/her citizenship. It was
during this discussion that the issue of underage
marriage surfaced, i.e. if a married female under
18 is considered to be of full age.
Another catalyst was Senator Ahmad Yerima's
justification of underage marriage under Islamic
laws and several interviews where he stated his
views.
We will keep you updated if this report re-ignites
the national debate.

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