A new national study has revealed a marked decline in girl child marriage in Nigeria, with the average prevalence across the country falling from 44 per cent to 28.6 per cent.
The findings are contained in The State of the Nigerian Girl Report II 2025, compiled by consultant Austine Mamedu and supported by Save the Children International (SCI).
The data were formally presented by Ali Andrew, Director of the Child Protection Department at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, during a virtual validation workshop on Thursday.
National decline, but major regional variations
The report notes a national figure of 28.6 per cent of girls aged 20-24 having been married before age 18, down from a 2016-2020 average of 44 per cent.
READ ALSO: Why Nigerian Senate Suspended Controversial Abortion Bill
But these averages mask large differences between states. According to the report’s executive summary (covering 12 states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones) and other data:
-
In the North-West zone:
-
Katsina State: 82.1 per cent of women aged 20-24 were married before 18.
-
Jigawa State: 76.9 per cent.
-
-
In the North-East zone:
-
Gombe State: 77.8 per cent.
-
Borno State: 13 per cent – though this figure appears unusually low and may reflect a different measure or sample.
-
-
In the North-Central zone:
-
Kwara State: 9.7 per cent of women aged 20-49 were married before 18.
-
Plateau State: 37 per cent (women aged 20-24) were married before 18.
-
-
In the South-West zone:
-
Lagos State: 22 per cent of women aged 20-24 were married before 18.
-
Oyo State: 14.3 per cent.
-
-
In the South-East zone:
-
Ebonyi State: 8.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 were married before 18.
-
Imo State: 4.0 per cent.
-
-
In the South-South zone:
-
Edo State: 3.9 per cent of women aged 20-24 were married before 18.
-
Cross River State: 3.7 per cent.
-
These figures reflect a dramatic north-south disparity in the prevalence of early marriage.
Drivers and Recommendations
The report identifies multiple drivers of child marriage in Nigeria: poverty, traditional and cultural practices, gender inequality and lack of education. It states that the reduction in prevalence has been achieved in large part thanks to interventions by international non‐governmental organisations, UN agencies, local NGOs, the World Bank and others, through programmes to expand access to education for girls and advocacy efforts to shift harmful social norms.
READ ALSO: Alleged Coup Plot: Names, Profiles of Detained 16 Military Officers
Key recommendations include:
-
Educational programmes to improve access and retention for girls.
-
Advocacy for social-norm change with community and religious leaders.
-
Law reform and enforcement of child-marriage legislation.
-
Empowerment and life-skills training for girls.
-
Community engagement and targeted, context-specific intervention.
Government commitment and stakeholder response
Minister of Women’s Affairs, Imaan Suleiman‑Ibrahim reaffirmed her commitment to issues affecting girls across Nigeria, emphasizing increasing access to education, health services, protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices such as early marriage.
Edema Irom, Commissioner for Women Affairs in Cross River State and Dean of the Commissioners of Women Affairs, said the commissioners had reviewed and validated the report and were ready to launch it.
Murjanatu Kabir, Policy & Advocacy Campaign Manager at Save the Children International, announced that the document will be formally launched at an appropriate date and pledged full incorporation of its recommendations into policy and programming.
The consultant visited 12 states (two per geopolitical zone) for field research.
Implications and challenges ahead
While the decline from 44 per cent to 28.6 per cent is a major step forward, the report cautions that the figure still implies nearly three in every ten girls are being married before 18. Moreover, the stark regional disparities demonstrate that progress has been uneven: northern states continue to face very high prevalence rates, while many southern states have comparatively low rates.
READ ALSO: Fire Razes Jabi Lake Mall Store in Abuja
Persistent challenges include:
-
Legal implementation gaps: Some states have yet to domesticate the federal Child Rights Act 2003 or effectively enforce minimum-age-of-marriage laws.
-
Deep cultural and traditional norms sustaining early marriage, especially in rural and impoverished communities.
-
Economic drivers: poverty remains a central factor pushing child marriage as a perceived survival strategy.
-
Education access: ensuring girls remain in school, have safe and inclusive learning environments, and complete secondary education.
-
Data limitations: Accurate, state-and district-level data remain patchy which hampers targeted interventions.
The State of the Nigerian Girl Report II 2025 provides a cautiously encouraging outlook: a significant national reduction in child marriage prevalence, but one that must be consolidated through sustained action, especially in high-prevalence regions. With continued collaboration between government, development partners, civil society, and local communities, Nigeria may be able to accelerate progress towards ending child marriage and unlocking the full potential of its girls.
