Child Marriage Robs Millions of Girls of Education, Future

By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe

The Executive Director of Concerned Minds for Environment, Health and Community Initiative (CMEHCI), Halima Ahmed Mahdi, has called for stronger action to end child marriage, warning that the practice continues to jeopardise the education, health and future of millions of girls worldwide.

Mahdi made the call to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11, with the theme, “End Child Marriage, Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

She said child marriage remained a serious concern, particularly in vulnerable communities where poverty, harmful social norms and inadequate access to education continue to push girls into early marriages.

Citing United Nations estimates, Mahdi said more than 12 million girls were married before the age of 18 annually, while an estimated 650 million women and girls alive today had experienced child marriage.

She identified sub-Saharan Africa as one of the regions heavily affected by the practice, calling for sustained efforts to protect girls and ensure they have equal opportunities to learn, grow and pursue their ambitions.

According to her, early marriage exposes girls to several risks, including teenage pregnancy, childbirth-related complications, gender-based violence and the loss of educational opportunities.

She added that the practice could also leave girls economically dependent and vulnerable to poverty, limiting their ability to make decisions about their lives and participate fully in society.

Mahdi said protecting girls required a collective commitment to ensuring that every child enjoyed safety, dignity, quality education and access to healthcare, regardless of her background.

She urged parents and guardians to invest in their daughters’ education and personal development rather than subjecting them to early marriage, stressing the importance of guidance, mentorship and adequate care.

The International Day of the Girl Child was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 66/170 on December 19, 2011, and was first observed in 2012 to promote girls’ rights and raise awareness of the challenges they face globally.