Paga Calls for Urgent Action to End Child Marriage in North-East

By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe

A gender and girl-child advocate, Ambassador Fatima Mohd Paga, has called for urgent measures to tackle child marriage, insecurity and gender-based violence in Nigeria’s North-East, warning that the challenges continue to threaten girls’ education, safety and future.

Paga, the Focal Person of UN Women in Yobe State, said girls in conflict-affected and remote communities were particularly vulnerable to violence, forced marriage and early motherhood, especially those abducted or held captive by non-state armed groups.

She made the call in a statement to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, themed, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls!”, said insecurity had robbed many girls in the region of their childhood, disrupted their education and exposed them to abuses that undermined their dignity and prospects of achieving their full potential.

Paga described child marriage as a major barrier to girls’ development, noting that it often forced them out of school and exposed them to serious health complications, including obstetric fistula, childbirth-related injuries and maternal death.

“No girl should have to sacrifice her childhood or her future because of circumstances beyond her control,” she said.

The advocate acknowledged efforts by the Yobe State Government to strengthen child protection, particularly through the Child Rights Law assented to by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

However, she stressed that effective implementation and enforcement of the law were essential to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that their rights were upheld.

She also expressed concern over the continued cases of gender-based violence against girls, including rape, harassment and other forms of abuse, calling for stronger protection mechanisms and accountability for perpetrators.

Paga urged parents and community leaders to abandon attitudes that portray girls’ education as a waste of time and resources, warning that such beliefs could limit their opportunities and hinder societal progress.

“Educating a girl is not a waste; it is an investment in her future, her family, her community and the development of our society,” she said.

She called on governments, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, the media, civil society organisations, parents and development partners to strengthen collaboration to end child marriage, protect girls from violence and expand access to quality education.