Child marriage is defined as a marriage of a girl or boy before the age of 18 and refers to both formal and informal unions in which children under the age of 18 live with a partner as if married. In 90% cases, the girl child is mostly affected.According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the third absolute number of child brides in the world – 3,538,000 – and the 11th highest prevalence rate of child marriage globally.

Child marriage was made illegal by the Nigerian Government in 2003 but campaigners from “Girls Not Brides” claim that 17% of girls in the country are still being married off before the age of 15. The legal age of marriage in Nigeria is 18.

Causes of child marriage:

* Poverty

* Cultural traditions

* Religious and social pressures

* Fear of remaining unmarried

* Laws that allow child marriages

Harmful effects of child marriage:

* Increased risk for STDs

* Cervical cancer

* Death during childbirth

* Obstetric fistula

* Offsprings are at increased risk for premature birth and death

* Domestic violence

* Malnutrition

*Limited access to contraception and healthcare etc.

These negative effects may then impact their children with daughters also likely to marry young.

The consequences of child marriage have lasting effects beyond adolescence as they struggle with the health effects of getting pregnant too young and too often, lack of education, economic independence, marital rape and domestic violence.

Ways To End Child Marriage:

* Educating both the girls and the wider community

* Empowering the girls

* Providing girls and their families with income opportunities

*Rallying the wider community to stand up for girls rights

* Petitioning the Government and encouraging supportive laws