El-Kanemi Memorial Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has warned against the dangers of child marriage, citing its devastating effects on young minds, including depression, anxiety, and lasting trauma.
Speaking at a lecture organised by the foundation in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Prof. Umar Alkali emphasised that early marriage exposes women to a range of challenges, including depression, intimate partner violence, and reduced educational and economic opportunities.
The lecture, titled “Addressing Early Marriage and its Impact on Adolescent Girls’ Education and Economic Rights,” was funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through Call to Action. Prof. Alkali stressed that women who marry early are more likely to experience depression due to the burden of marital responsibilities, sexual demands, and childbearing and childrearing at a young age.
He also noted that early marriage often leads to intimate partner violence, which has a strong negative impact on psychological well-being.
The foundation organised a series of workshops targeting religious leaders and women’s wing representatives to facilitate constructive dialogue and promote understanding among stakeholders to combat the harmful effects of early marriage on adolescent girls.
The workshops aimed to educate participants on the global prevalence of early marriage, its impact on adolescent girls’ education, and its consequences for their economic empowerment.
Religious leaders shared insightful interpretations of religious teachings, highlighting the importance of girls’ education and economic rights while dispelling misconceptions related to early marriage.
Interactive sessions allowed participants to share personal experiences, discuss community-based solutions, and explore ways to sensitise communities to the adverse effects of early marriage.
The participants worked together to develop action plans and strategies to prevent early marriage, enhance access to education, and promote economic opportunities for adolescent girls.
Other facilitators included Mohammed Abba Musa and Mohammed Tukur Abdulhakim.
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