Youth Parliament Leader Pushes For End To Child Marriage

In a bold move to protect Nigerian children’s rights and unleash the country’s potential, Majority Leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Ridwan Barade, is leading the charge to outlaw and criminalise marriage before the age of 18.

His call, made at a national roundtable dialogue on the Day of the African Child 2025, reflects a growing dissatisfaction among young leaders who see child marriage as a major impediment to national development.

While international organisations such as the United Nations Population Fund continue to support youth development in Nigeria, Barade’s proposal goes beyond legislation.

It is a direct challenge to the Nigerian government to take responsibility for its future by investing in its youth and ending practices that deprive them of their potential.

“A child who has not yet completed her education, who does not even have her own intellect, is already in a house giving birth to children, which is very wrong,” Barade said, emphasising the devastating impact of child marriage on education, health, and overall societal development.

He intends to collaborate with stakeholders to develop a legal framework that will not only prohibit the practice, but also penalise parents who give their children away before they reach adulthood.

This push for legislative action is accompanied by a broader call for increased youth participation and government accountability.

Adek Bassey, AfriYAN’s Nigeria National Coordinator, echoes this sentiment, calling for youth representation in decision-making and transparency in government-funded youth programs.

“We should be at the roundtable where decisions are made,” Bassey said, emphasising the gap between policymaking and the needs and perspectives of young Nigerians.

She emphasised the importance of a dedicated Nigerian government fund specifically for youth initiatives, with clear and transparent eligibility criteria. This would ensure that resources are allocated effectively to pressing issues such as education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

“We want to receive funding from our own Nigerian pool fund for young people… Put your criteria for us to meet, and we will definitely meet them,” Bassey urged, signalling Nigerian youth’s eagerness and capacity to drive positive change if their own government provides them with the necessary support and resources.

This multifaceted approach, which combines legislative action, demands for increased government investment, and youth inclusion, represents a new and potentially powerful force for change in Nigeria.

It places the responsibility on the Nigerian government to not only protect its children, but also to empower its youth to build a better future for the country. The question now is whether the government will answer the call.