Spread the word
Parents and guardians have been called upon to de-emphasise early marriage and give their girl-child equal opportunity as the boy-child to aspire and harness her potentials.
A girl child is an asset to the society that should not be toyed with but rather encouraged to achieve her potentials, which if forced into an early marriage, is capable of shortening her horizon.
Enugu state coordinator of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), Dr. Ebele Georgina Chukwu Onuora, made the appeal in an address at the 2026 International Day Of The Girl Child, held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Enugu on Thursday.
Speaking on the theme of the celebration: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights,” Onuora called on parents not to stick to the old culture of early marriage but to give their girl child opportunity to aspire and achieve her set talent.
Onuora however, acknowledged that marriage is good but that it must not be at the altar of cutting their child’s education short before adulthood.
“Today, we have gathered not merely to celebrate our girls, but to confront a serious issue that threatens their future: child marriage. We are also here to reaffirm our collective commitment to investing in girls’ education, health, protection, empowerment and overall development.
“Marriage is a beautiful institution, but it should not become a shortcut that robs a child of her childhood. Marriage requires maturity, responsibility and informed consent. Childhood, on the other hand, requires protection, education, guidance and the freedom to grow,” she said.
She reasoned that for children to be called future leaders or leaders of tomorrow, they must be prepared for the leadership which an early marriage is capable of halting.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me begin with a simple question: If we say that children are the leaders of tomorrow, why do we sometimes rush to make our girls wives before they have the opportunity to become the leaders, professionals and nation-builders of tomorrow?
“A girl who should be learning algebra should not be forced to calculate the cost of running a household. A girl who should be writing her examinations should not be compelled to prepare for marriage. And a girl who dreams of becoming a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, an entrepreneur or even a governor should not have her dreams terminated by a decision she was too young to make,” she said, adding that every opportunity to aspire to greater heights should be given to the girl child.
The AGILE coordinator, stressing the importance of sound education for all children, especially the girls, called on community and religious leaders to rise to the occasion to dissuade early marriage.
“To our traditional rulers, community leaders and religious leaders, your voices carry enormous influence. When you speak, communities listen. When you advocate for girls’ education and protection, families take notice. When you stand against child marriage, you help to change attitudes and protect generations yet unborn.
“Let us work together to make our communities places where a girl is celebrated for passing her examinations, encouraged when she discovers her talents and supported when she aspires to achieve great things,” she said.
Acknowledging that culture should be preserved, she insisted that it must not be a hindrance to the future of a girl child.
“As Africans, and particularly as Nigerians, we are proud of our rich cultural heritage. Our traditions teach us respect for elders, responsibility to the family, communal living and the preservation of our values. These are virtues worth protecting.
“However, culture is strongest when it protects the vulnerable, promotes human dignity and gives every member of society the opportunity to thrive. We must therefore distinguish between cultural values that build our communities and practices that may deny children their fundamental rights.
“Our forefathers valued education, character, hard work and the preservation of family honour. We must build on these positive values. We can preserve our culture without sacrificing the future of our daughters,” she said.
Prominent personalities who graced the occasion aligned with the organisation that girl education is important.
She urged parents to give their girl children the opportunity to become what they wish to be in life.
Chairman, Ezeagu Traditional Rulers Council, Enugu state, Igwe Emmanuel Anichebe; Chairman of PPSMB, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Chinedu Ngbodile; Prof. Ben Etiaba and Nze Akachukwu, agreed that given the opportunity, the girl child could be a governor, president, doctor, lawyer, journalist or scientist.
Highlights of the occasion was a debate between two Green and Smart Schools from Owo Campus and Maryland Campus which centred on whether early marriage should be preferred to secondary school education as well as pantomime and other entertainment that enlivened the occasion.
Spread the word