Advancing Youth Engagement in Policy Reform to Prevent Early Marriage and Promote Girl-Child Protection in Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the presence of laws, policies and interventions to protect children and education of the girl child in Nigeria, early marriage is still a major public health, social development and human rights problem. The practice continues to cause girls unfavourable health outcomes, impact on their education, economic dependence, gender inequality and violations of their basic rights. Governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and community leaders have taken steps to respond to early marriage through a number of initiatives; however, there is still too little meaningful involvement of young people in the policy process, implementation, and monitoring of these steps. This policy brief looks at the implementation of the Nigeria government policy on youth engagement in addressing early marriage and strengthening girl child protection in Nigeria. The report is based on qualitative data gathered from youth leaders, religious leaders, traditional leaders and community stakeholders, and draws out some of the key drivers of early marriage and the barriers that prevent youth from participating, the policy gaps, and opportunities for change. The results show that poverty, cultural norms, lack of parental education, gender inequality and late school attendance are among the primary factors perpetuating early marriage. The participants noted that if given proper support and opportunities, youth can be great advocates for girl-child education, for community awareness, for policy implementation and for social transformation. The policy brief proposes to institutionalize youth participation in child protection systems, enhance youth-led advocacy initiatives, increase access to education for girls and create sustainable systems that amplify the voices of youth in the policy process at all levels.