KWSG, UNFPA Collaborate To End Child Marriage, Teenager Pregnancy
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
In a bid to protect the rights of children and ensure their welfare, the Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has called on communities across the three senatorial districts of the State to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy in the State.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade, made the call over the weekend during her visits to various communities across the State.
The Commissioner emphasised that child marriage and teenage pregnancy are menaces to the society, explaining that these acts deprive children of their right to education and better future.
Chief Afolashade, who was represented by the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply, Alhaji Rasheed Ubandawaki, stated that the Child Rights Law and Violence Against Person Prohibitions Act does not allow anyone under the age of 16 years to be married or given in marriage by her parent or guardian and warned that anyone caught will be liable to conviction.
She added that the effect of child marriage and teenage pregnancy limits the access of the children to education and vocational training making them vulnerable to abuse, depression, stigma and medical conditions such as obstetrics fistula, eclampsia, birth of preterm babies and sometimes death.
The Commissioner further commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his dedication to the future of children in the State and UNFPA for their support to end harmful practices against children and women.
In her speech, the Chief Executive Officer, HUWANE Foundation, Dr Fareedah Yusuf, also explained that early child marriage and teenage pregnancy are detrimental to the future of any society, pointing out that a child equipped with educational and vocational skills contributes significantly to the development of every society.
Traditional rulers and other stakeholders present at the event all pledged their support to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy in their various communities.
In attendance were the Alangua Tanke Community, Alhaji Umar Salaudeen; Alangua, Abayawo Oko Community, Alhaji Abdulwahab Bolakale Lawal; Mogaji Agba Community, Mallam Muhammed Lawal; Mogaji, Oke Adini Community, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ayinla; Oke Adini Community; Leader of Itesiwaju Forum, Alhaji Abubakar Olowo; Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria; Kwara Disability Youth Group in Politics, Mr Teslim Balogun; SYD Forum Babaoko among others.
