Ekwunife Demands End to Child Marriage, Calls for Greater Investment in Girl Child

Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife, CON, FCNA, has called for an end to child marriage and increased investment in girls’ education, healthcare, rights and leadership development, warning against practices that deprive girls of their opportunities to thrive.

Ekwunife, a senatorial hopeful for Anambra Central, made the call in a message marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), themed “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

Expressing concern over the prevalence of child marriage globally, she cited an estimated 650 million women and girls worldwide who were married before the age of 18, stressing the urgent need for stronger child-protection measures and sustained efforts to safeguard the rights and future of every girl.

She noted that every girl deserves access to quality education, adequate healthcare and the freedom to pursue her aspirations without discrimination, abuse or harmful traditional and social practices.

The senator urged governments, parents, traditional rulers and community leaders to intensify efforts to discourage early marriage, strengthen child-protection systems and create an environment in which girls can develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to society.

“When we educate, protect, and empower our girls, we invest in the future of our families, communities, and nation,” she stated.

Ekwunife reaffirmed that investing in girls’ rights and development was essential to building stronger families and communities, adding that no society could achieve its full potential when its girls were denied the opportunity to realise theirs.

She called for collective action to ensure that every girl enjoys the protection, education and opportunities necessary to fulfil her potential.