Ridwan Barade, Majority Leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, has called for the enactment of a national law to prohibit early marriage, citing its negative impact on education and the personal development of girls.
Barade made the call on the sidelines of a National Dialogue with High-Level Policymakers on Advancing the Rights of Girls and Young Women in Nigeria. The dialogue was organised by the African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development (AfriYAN) Nigeria in collaboration with the National Youth Parliament, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It was held in commemoration of the Day of the African Child, marked annually on June 16.
According to Barade, early marriage remains a serious barrier to the development of girls and the nation at large.
“A child who is not yet done with education, who doesn’t even have full intellectual capacity, should not be in a marital home giving birth. It is wrong. We need to change that narrative if we want to move forward as a country,” he said.
He urged policymakers to act swiftly in banning child marriage across all states and stressed the need for improved access to education, particularly for children in rural communities. Barade also praised the Federal Government’s ongoing student loan initiative.
Beyond legal reforms, he challenged Nigerian youth to act responsibly and become positive representatives of the country both at home and abroad.
“When we travel abroad and show our green passport, many times we are judged negatively because of a few bad examples. This must change. Youths must lead the way,” he added.
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Speaking at the dialogue, National Coordinator of AfriYAN Nigeria, Ms Adek Bassey, emphasised the importance of youth engagement in policy formulation and accountability.
“We had more than 30 youth-led organisation leaders and activists in the room. They asked direct questions on budgeting, programming, and youth inclusion in policy formulation,” she said.
Bassey highlighted the need for a government-backed youth development fund to support youth-led initiatives without overdependence on international donors.
“We have mapped and validated youth-led organisations across Nigeria. We want to see annual calls from the government where we, as responders, can apply to implement impactful programmes. Let us be funded by our own government,” she stated.
She also called for structural reforms, including stable budget allocations, institutionalised youth development policies, and long-term engagement beyond one-off events and dialogues.
Another participant, Ms Nnyen Adomi, described the event as a timely and insightful platform for meaningful engagement between youths and policymakers.
“The Youth Parliament and Ministry of Youth shared ongoing projects and made commitments to collaborate with youth organisations to ensure that our actions are reflected in national policy frameworks,” she said.
The event served as a platform for youth-led advocacy and dialogue, aimed at promoting gender equality, advancing girls’ rights, and pushing for concrete policy action on issues affecting young people in Nigeria.
