Nigeria has the highest rate of child marriage in the world for any third world country. Especially in the northern hemisphere of the country, girls from child birth are often at the risk of marriage from that early age. There are no educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for them which is leading to an increase in the gender inequality gap.
The outbreak of the covid19 pandemic is also staging a threat to the fight for equality, especially in education for girls in Nigeria.
With the financial crumble the covid19 will bring to many families, there is likely to be an increase in child marriage post the pandemic and a reduction of schooling and education opportunities for those who even had access to it in the first place. This is because some families for the sake of regaining their financial power will have to subject their daughters to child marriages as the dowries from such alliances can help boast the family prospects thereby leaving the question ‘are girls and women to be seen as chattels in the 21st century?’
It is such a gory site but in a country that still boasts of existing laws supporting child marriage, female genital mutilation and inequality, where majority of the laws pertaining to the health and well-being of over 130 million women and girls are made by an over 70% male legislature body, we most definitely will know that our work is cut out for us as feminists in the country and beyond.
This however indicates a call for the fight for more stances of gender equality. For more legislations, policies, judicial decisions that supports the affairs of the female gender for equality in Nigeria. Powerful networks and authorities are needed for this movement. Schemes, projects and initiatives that have the capability to drive this change must be supported across board.
This is my open letter to gender equality enthusiast and feminists, we cannot afford to fail, we owe it to history and ourselves!
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