The Majority Leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Ridwan Barade, has called for the outlawing and criminalization of marriage involving anyone below the age of 18.
Barade made the call during a National Roundtable Dialogue with high-level policymakers held in Abuja to mark the Day of the African Child 2025. The event was organized by the African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development (AfriYAN) Nigeria in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
He stated, “A child who is not yet done with education, who doesn’t even have the intellect to understand herself, is already in a home giving birth to children. That is very wrong, and if we don’t change that narrative, we won’t be able to move forward as a country.”
Barade emphasized that 18 is the internationally recognized age of adulthood and argued that introducing a law prohibiting marriage before that age would help address the issue effectively. He called on the government to implement such a law and prohibit parents from marrying off their children before they turn 18.
He added that penalizing those involved in underage marriage would be a significant step toward progress, noting his readiness to collaborate with fellow parliamentarians and other stakeholders in developing a legal framework to outlaw child marriage in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of AfriYAN Nigeria, Adek Bassey, called for greater youth involvement in governance. “We should be at the roundtable where decisions are taken,” she said.
Bassey highlighted the lack of transparent and impactful youth programmes initiated by the government and urged authorities to invest more in youth-centered initiatives. She stressed the need for funding to come from domestic sources rather than relying solely on international partners.
While appreciating the United Nations and its agencies for supporting youth development efforts in Nigeria, she noted that Nigerian youths would feel a greater sense of ownership if such initiatives were funded by the Nigerian government.
She said, “When we see a call from our own pool of funds from the government, all of us will be excited that this funding is from the Nigerian government. Right now, we are always funded by UNFPA or UN Women. We want to be funded by our own national pool for young people, and let it be accessible.”
Bassey further urged the government to establish clear application criteria and a transparent tracking system to ensure funds are used effectively. She called for an annual government call for youth funding applications to support youth-led programmes with measurable impact.
