Opinion

By Alhaji Musa Muhammad 

The more you have been infected with kidney failure, the more you will come to the mind of the people: “You are finished”. Others take you as a corpse just walking before its last breath.

Hadejia, the area with a number of such cases, is still facing the problem without knowing its root causes. However, there was a time when one of the presenters (name withheld), during a campaign awareness, warned vegetable/fish farmers to avoid using pesticides and herbicides on direct fruits, for example, eggplants.

He said there was a time when he saw a  farmer spraying his eggplant farm and asked him why he was pouring it. The farmer replied yes, I’m spreading it for every fruit to rip simultaneously. The Dr said are you not afraid the chemical will affect the consumers? The farmer replied, ‘I’m not the one who consumed it”.

Efforts have been made by some politicians, especially former senator Ibrahim Hassan, to take urgent action to tackle the spread of the disease. Unfortunately, there is no remarkable feedback about the different gatherings held on the kidney problem in the area.

Community-based organisations have done a lot in organising sensitisation meetings in collaboration with health practitioners, but the community members are still witnessing the increase in the problem.

One thing to be done regarding the kidney problem is the need for the government to take urgent action and mobilise the environment on the causes of the disease.

I must commend the effort and struggle of Dr Isah Billami during his tenure as chairman of Hadejia Ina Mafita to organise a town meeting to learn the solution to the problem. However, there was no positive feedback on the issue.

Our politicians range from the council chairman, members representing Hadejia at the state House of Assembly, senators representing Jigawa Northeast and the Governor at large; your response is highly needed now.

Allah ya kawo mana dauki , Ameem .

Alhaji Musa Muhammad wrote from Hadejia, Jigawa State.

By Dr. Dikko Muhammad

I’m surprised that some people find the said letter of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi surprising. The fact is that many Nigerians see the courts as departments for the pursuance of politicians’ interest and more often, as stalls for the sale of “justice” to the highest bidder. And they have reasons to believe so. Why?

Senator Bulkachuwa told the Senate, on camera, that his wife, a former President of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, “extended her help to his colleagues” while in office.

A recently retired justice of the Supreme Court complained a lot of its workings. Not to mention the complaints against the top Oga of the Supreme Court who once led other justices to complain against the former top Oga of the Supreme Court.

Series of conflicting judgments are becoming a defining feature of ours courts.

The idea of the court as an umpire is fast becoming extinct. If any unknown backbencher politician wants me lock up tomorrow, being Sunday, don’t be surprised for the lines of judges ready to grant his request.

Where justice is delayed and denied, fears and favours determining verdicts, faith in the court is eroded. This is why our country has become a planet of jungle justice. People think that the courts are haven for criminals. The densely populated prisons in Nigeria are a repulsive testimony to the putrid stench of our entire judicial system.

So, it’s now left for our courts to either redeem their battered image or continue to sink into the abys. They’re designed to be the last refuge for the oppressed, not a refuse for the oppressor. If writing a letter would make it deliver justice, we should all be letter writers to the Supreme Court.

Dikko writes from Katsina State, Nigeria.

By Ibrahim I. Waziri

When I saw the flyers announcing the theme of this year’s colloquium (16th December 2023) – “Political/Economic Formulas for National Development” – I couldn’t help but get excited. Though I work at a university where expert colleagues analyse the state of the nation during daily breaks, I felt ready for fresh perspectives on the current political and economic implications of the recent ECOWAS sanctions on Niger and how they impact us, particularly Nigerian businesses in the North.

My excitement stemmed from two key factors. First, the colloquium was to be held in Sokoto, one of the Nigerian states bordering Niger, which bears the brunt of the sanctions most. Second, the convener, Mallam Zayyanu Yabo, is the current Chairman of the Sokoto Professionals Network, a body dedicated to showcasing the abundant economic opportunities within Sokoto and putting the state on the national map.

However, Dr. Chima Amadi, the keynote speaker and a scholar-businessman, not only impressed the audience with his expertise but also left us with thought-provoking questions at the end of his presentation. After refocusing the theme solely on economics and development (much to my surprise not giving room for the ECOWAS-Niger political angle), he delved into defining “positive development” as possibly anything that leads to poverty reduction.

He then provided an insightful review of Nigerian economic history, highlighting the struggles associated with various economic frameworks adopted over the past 63 years since independence.

These included ten different economic plans, Washington Consensus-inspired structural adjustment programs under Babangida, Obasanjo’s NEEDS (also Bretton Woods institutions influenced), and later approaches that haven’t strayed far from past strategies. Dr. Amadi pointed out that these national planning and economic strategies were often prescribed by agenda-driven foreign institutions, potentially lacking a comprehensive appreciation of Nigeria’s history, local realities, and perhaps even neglecting its best interests.

The result, as statistics sadly demonstrate, he concluded, is a Nigeria far from achieving poverty reduction and ranking low on every reputable international survey on human development indices.

The solutions, he suggested, might include, among other things, looking into the journey of some contemporary nations with relative success in economy and development. The Asian Tigers abandoned Bretton Woods institutions’ prescriptions and are far better off than us. Perhaps we should focus more on local content, since development by its nature is organic and self-conscious, not externally prescribed and sourced!

This point resonated most with the audience and the panellists during the discussion session thereafter, as statistics reveal that about 65% of the country’s current GDP is not contributed from the formal structured economy that currently cannot be thoroughly analysed.

Among the lead panellists, one immediately pointed out how in some Asian Tiger countries, their indigenous cultural institutions before colonialism are still relevant constitutionally, providing needed social focus and keeping national planning consistent. 

An issue about the relationship between local businesses and research output from our institutions of higher learning was observed to be almost non-existent, with intellectual property laws seeming ineffective and indigenous ideas prone to theft within and across national borders.

Another erudite barrister, Kingston Chikwendu, building on an earlier submission about gender and youth inclusion, observed that the question of local content and inclusion stands front and centre even at the venue of the colloquium. He questioned why we gather in Sokoto, speaking in “exotic English” about economy and development in a language that the majority of the state’s economic demographic cannot understand. He suggested that in the future, provision should be made for at least a real-time translation of proceedings into Hausa, fulfilling the keynote address’s first prescription for local content and inclusion.

This last point reminded me of the often-repeated sentiment that if our local languages had been our medium of instruction at secondary school level, where substances like sulphur and potassium were taught in Chemistry classes as “Farin Kasa” and “Kanwa” respectively, we would have appreciated their value better and explored their economic relevance more. Between us and our grandmothers, we might have been able to come up with mixtures with the potential for inventions with significant personal and societal economic benefits.

The session for me was a high dose of concentrated intellectual elixir. Though the keynote address dropped the political angle of the theme, denying me the opportunity to see issues related to the ECOWAS sanctions on Niger and their attendant implications on Nigeria’s economy and security problems discussed, I can still say I got more than enough.

The Sokoto colloquium is putting the state in the news for all the right reasons. The session was attended by representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and the state governor; and it received wide coverage by national news outlets. The deliberations are being heard by policymakers. Our prayers go to God to strengthen the will and wings of the convener as well as supporters across the nation. Nigeria is in dire need of robust policy review forums like what Sokoto colloquium offers.

Ibrahim A. Waziri wrote from Zaria, Kaduna State. He can be reached via iawaziri@gmail.com.

Author: Vincent Hiribarren

Date of Publication: 2017

Number of pages: 310

Publisher: Hurst & Company, London

If you knew very little about the territorial framework of the Borno empire before now, then reading this book might likely shatter some previously held notions about the region. Borno has, in recent years, notoriously gained renewed academic attention as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. Spoiler alert: this book isn’t about the origin of Kanuri or other inhabitants.

Although the Borno empire found its roots in the 8th century, this book covered only the past 200 years of the kingdom’s existence. Therefore, the 8 chapters of the book started at the beginning of the 19th century down to around 2014 when the research for its publication was concluded. The author seemed very mindful of the political significance of the Borno empire following the Fulani jihad, even if the invasion had a different outcome, but that’s another topic entirely.

The earlier section of the book highlighted the spatial continuity of the territorial framework of Borno, which argued that fairly stable structural borders existed well before colonial times. This was a pivotal juncture, as discussed later in the book, for the ‘scramble for Borno’, where the 19th-century spatial frameworks were used to legitimise conquest by foreign invaders. It proved important even in the European colonial competition against each other.

Later on, the book explored how, essentially, the British and the Germans recycled the Borno region within their colonial spatial framework with an additional detailed perspective of the Indirect rule. It didn’t stop there, it goes on to analyse how, in reality, the colonial administration of Borno during the early colonial period played a decisive role in the preservation of its territorial continuity.

Navigating this book, you need to have an incredible tolerance for some nitty gritty details. The writing style is aggressively academic, and it is filled with flayed raw materials to inspire further reading. It is definitely not a very easy-to-read book but rather a slice of rock-hard brain playground! It’s very clear that the author is a cartography freak.

The book itself must have been inspired by the thesis undertaken by the author while pursuing a PhD at the University of Leeds in the UK with the title “From a Kingdom to a Nigerian State: the Territory and Boundaries of Borno 1810-2010”. The author teaches African History at King’s College London.

Dr Shamsuddeen Sani wrote from Kano, Nigeria.

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

The last time the Bauchi state government recruited teachers in its primary and secondary schools was in 2014-2015 when Dr Malam Isah Yuguda was in power. Since then, no single teacher has been employed again in the sector, though there have been cases of retirement, changes of cadres, and death.

It may not interest readers to hear that with these sad and unwelcome developments, Bauchi state has been enumerated among the states with many out-of-school children in Nigeria. According to UNESCO, in October 2022, Bauchi had the highest figures, amounting to 1,239,759.

These alarming figures are not unconnected to the government’s failure to recruit apt teachers, provide enough instructional materials and non-payment of staff salaries. This weird and mind-boggling development has thrown thousands of Bauchi kids out of school and, sadly, others to street begging and other criminal activities. 

Imagine a primary school having one teacher with a population of about 350 pupils. There are many schools in the Lame district of Toro local government with only one teacher. Also, not just Lame district but almost all primary schools in the state’s rural areas face similar problems. Pupils receive classes under the shed trees with no chairs. Hmm! Primary schools and even our secondary schools are in terrible condition.

Recently, the Daily Trust newspaper reported how the lack of teachers and infrastructure forced the closure of many primary schools and turned pupils into farmers in Alkaleri, the governor’s local government. Still, Daily Trust gathered that multiple public primary schools, especially in the semi-urban and rural areas of the state, are either run by volunteer teachers hired by the community development committee or by public-spirited individuals in their quest to attract parents and children who are shunning school.

Surprisingly, the authorities are aware of the situation. There was a time when Korijo Usman, the SUBEB director of state, told journalists that there were 79 primary schools in Misau’s local government, and each school had one teacher.

The governor had once condemned the system while expressing dissatisfaction with the Dumi school’s bad condition. He stated that he was unhappy with SUBEB and the state’s ministry of education. 

Therefore, if the governor can condemn the system and nothing has been done to fix it, then our kids’ future is at stake. Also, the government has indicated its ineptitude to restore the system.

If the World Bank and other NGOs could donate huge funds, just revamp the system. I accused the state government of embezzling the funds since nothing has been done yet.

However, the dilapidating condition of the schools must be attributed to the activities of vandals and the negligence of the host communities; government negligence contributed to nearly 70% of the problems. It is undeniable that unscrupulous elements are carting away schools’ belongings, having government agents as masterminders.

Therefore, education in Bauchi state is on the verge of collapse as there are many no’s. As such, I’m calling on the present administration of Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir to employ sufficient teachers, build enough classes, and renovate the abandoned ones as a matter of urgent public importance. 

Notwithstanding, paying teachers’ salaries on time and promoting those who are supposed to be promoted would help revitalise the education sector in the state; if not, the whole system will soon collapse, and the position of the state education sector will be nowhere to be found. 

Ukasha Rabiu Magama writes from Magama, Toro, Bauchi State, and can be reached at Ukasharabiu95@gmail.com.

By Suleiman Ahmed

1. When things are going well for you, remain humble. It’s not just about your hard work, intelligence, skills, or talents; factors like luck, good timing, opportunities, and privileges also play a role.

2. Conversely, when things are going bad for you, forgive yourself and avoid falling into despair. Some aspects are beyond your control. As long as you did what you had to, forgive yourself, learn from the outcome, correct your mistakes, and keep moving forward. 

3. You’re not as good as you think you are when you’re winning, and you’re not as bad as you think you are when things are going poorly. Take it easy.

4. Bad things will happen. It doesn’t matter if you’re a good person or not; bad things can happen to anyone. There are too many variables beyond your control. This is why it’s crucial to prepare for challenging days when things are going well. 

The Igala people have a wise saying: “In times of abundance, prepare for hardship.” Life isn’t all about feasting; there will be moments of famine. What you do during times of plenty determines how you cope during times of scarcity. A great year doesn’t guarantee the next one will be the same. Life is unpredictable. Another crisis might happen, or unexpected challenges may arise. 

Many things are beyond your control, so staying prepared is the best way to handle surprises. In essence, the Igala wisdom encourages prudence during prosperous times. It teaches us to resist the temptation to indulge in extravagant spending during good times and, finally, to adopt a sustainable life, diligently saving for unforeseen emergencies. 

A lack of preparation for the bad times exposes one to relying on charity from others for financial assistance when hard times eventually arrive. While this may not be wrong in and of itself, relying on people’s benevolence during emergencies is not only risky but also unfair to both yourself and the people you seek help from, especially if feelings of betrayal arise when they can’t rescue you. Numerous relationships have been strained due to one party’s inability to offer financial support during times of distress. It’s crucial to recognise that we don’t always know the challenges others are silently facing. Therefore, feeling offended or betrayed when they are unable to help is rather unkind. 

In summary, stay humble and frugal during good times, forgive yourself and remain patient during bad times, and stay prepared for the unexpected. While the future is unpredictable, being prepared helps you handle surprises better.

The path is long. 

The burden is heavy. 

May your arm be strong. 

May your sword be sharp.

Suleiman Ahmed is the author of TROUBLE IN VALHALLA. He is also a software engineer. He is available on X/Twitter via @sule365.

By Muhammad Miftahuddeen Isa

The plight of secondary school students in government schools across Bauchi State is getting worse by the day, and their situation, if left unattended, would do a lot of harm to the future of the State. 

Education is the key to civilisation; it influences growth and frustrates mediocrity in thoughts and aspirations. It, therefore, becomes pertinent to teach the right mindset to students, teachers and those saddled with the responsibility of providing quality education to our brethren. However, while orienting our brothers and sisters in secondary schools on how to succeed in life, we were baffled to learn that our schools lack adequate teachers to teach and guide students towards a prosperous future. 

BALAWSAN Law Week was my way of bidding farewell to the one-year service to the Bauchi State Law Students’ Association of Nigeria—as its President. But contrary to what people had imagined, all my programs centred on secondary school students. At least, that’s what many would say, even though the Members of BALAWSAN were never left behind.

We intended to unveil young men with great potential and build more capable leaders through mindset reorientation and capacity building. We have achieved that— through the direct beneficiaries of the programs— our members and the secondary school students—most especially during the Debate Competition we organised between Secondary Schools, where young, intelligent students were given the platform to display their oratory prowess and consequently, the chance to realise their worth and capabilities. I am happy with how things turned out, for I am confident now that we do not lack talents in Bauchi State; we lack the will to invest in them. I will explain this further in the subsequent paragraphs.

On the 26th of October, 2023, my team and I arrived at Sa’adu Zungur Model Secondary School at about 11 am for a Career Awareness Program, with which we declared open the first BALAWSAN Law Week, 2023. The School is among the most reputed Public Schools in Bauchi State, and naturally, we would expect their standards to fit their public image. The Principal gave us a warm welcome, after which we were ushered into the Hall booked for the event. 

My friend, who coupled as the Master of Ceremony, introduced the purpose for which we were there, after which I was invited to deliver a brief lecture on “what it means to be a Lawyer” and subsequently, Miss. Atika Garba Hassan and Mr. Bilyamin Aliyu Salisu— both fresh graduates of Law— delivered lectures on “The Requirements for Law Admission in Nigerian Institutions” and “The Mindset for Success”, respectively. It was both an exciting and impactful program for everyone until we started dishing out questions, and as expected, the students answered passionately. 

As is the practice, we allowed for questions from the audience. Both students and staff asked many important questions, but the one that occupies my mind even as I write this piece is: “Literature in English, as Miss. Atika has explained it is a requirement for a person who intends to pursue a career in Law, and we have no Literature on English teaching in this school. Not only in this School but in the whole of Bauchi State, we had two of them, one of whom is deceased now. The Government is doing its best. The question now is, how could our students be qualified to study law under this circumstance? Another thing is that we do not have sufficient teachers to teach Government.”

Ordinarily, every good citizen would find it troubling to know that one of the best public secondary schools in Bauchi has no teacher available to teach one of the most important subjects for every Art Class Student— I am a good citizen. To call this a disappointment is the highest I could go in leniency, and to call a spade a spade. It is the zenith of cruelty perpetrated by the government of Bauchi State, every stakeholder in the state’s education sector, parents, and all the people of Bauchi State. How could this be happening without anyone saying anything? This is a time bomb, and unless it is dismantled, an abode is guaranteed in hell for all of us— both the Actors and Spectators. If this is what we found out in less than the Two hours we had been in the School, how much more does the Ministry of Education know? How much more does individual School Management know? And how much more do we need to know before we act?

It is common knowledge that even the Commissioner and Directors of the Ministry of Education and Principals and Teachers of Public Schools do not have their wards enrolled in public schools, which has contributed to the criminal neglect of the schools. How can you be selling to people what you cannot use yourself? How can you ask people to trust the institution you steer when you do not trust such institutions with your children? But it is okay. I know they would rather point fingers than do the right thing, but at least these students— the ones we have neglected— should have qualified teachers capable of helping them (the students) achieve their goals. 

I know many schools face the same or worse challenges, and it is equally public knowledge that the State Government has the means to build roads; why would those funds not be diverted to support the God-given talents of the thousands of students caged in cave-like classrooms, with goals and the willingness to pursue them, but with no teachers to teach important subjects? Why would Parents have the energy to supervise the distribution of palliatives but turn a deaf ear to the intellectual sufferings of their wards? Why would Student Unions continue to waste funds on frivolous events even after knowing the problems bedevilling our brothers and sisters in schools? There are many whys, but the most important is why we call ourselves “human beings” when we peacefully sleep at night ignoring the plight of thousands of young promising students who have no one but us to fight for them?! Why?!

To fight this menace, all hands should be on deck to champion the change required to restore public confidence in public schools. The Government should provide a conducive environment for learning, engage the services of qualified teachers for every subject— in every school— and improve the welfare of both the teaching and non-teaching staff in the Education Sector. Adequate measures should also be implemented to ensure those saddled with responsibilities discharge them effectively. Parents should be willing to inquire about the things being taught in schools through diligent inspection of notes and friendly conversations tailored towards finding out the needs of their wards about their plans and whether the school can cover those efficiently. 

Student Union Leaders should accept the responsibility that comes with their titles; they should prioritise quality education through advocacy, and tangible projects centred towards achieving access to quality education and career guidance. Private Organizations should utilise the resources available for their corporate social responsibility, or a reasonable percentage thereof, to support the Government in realising access to quality education. 

We must do what we can to curtail this menace that feeds on the foundation of our civilisation and progress. Every one of us must do what we can to uphold the integrity and standards of our Educational System. Every Child deserves a fair chance at proving their worth and capabilities, and no child deserves a school that lacks the facilities to support their dreams. Everyone must be able to speak up when they see anything undermining the quality of education received anywhere— in private and public schools.

Muhammad Miftahuddeen Isa writes from Bauchi State and can be contacted via Muftahuddeenisa@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Sani Usman

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I want to express my sincere gratitude for your consistent advocacy stressing the significance of skills over degrees.

Your dedication to highlighting practical skills as crucial assets in today’s dynamic world resonates deeply with many, myself included.

While you are one of my favorite Islamic scholars, I’d like to bring to your attention some noteworthy and concerning aspects regarding this advocacy:

As a prominent minister under former President Muhammad Buhari, having risen through the ranks from NITDA, addressing the dilapidated state of Nigerian universities should have been a focus. Reforming the system to incorporate skills in every profession would have been invaluable.

Considering the fourth industrial revolution, your emphasis on ICT skills is commendable. However, collaboration with the Senate committee for Education and NUC during your tenure could have established mandatory digital laboratories and ensured graduates are equipped with essential skills before leaving university.

Sir, It’s disheartening to observe many IT and computer science graduates lacking basic coding and programming abilities due to a flawed educational system. While you aren’t the Minister of Education, a more vocal advocacy for change would have been impactful.

Most importantly, recognizing the importance of industrial-scale skills like Project Management and other hard skills is essential. This will ensure that people from the North benefit from the economy of scale and are not marginalized in organizations.

While NITDA introduced boot camps to train youths in ICT skills during your tenure, the exclusive focus on Abuja limited accessibility for the broader population down the North.

Sir, the introduction of blockchain and the recent three million digital skills initiative by your predecessor, Kashif, suggested limited inclusion to these valuable skills. There’s a need to practicality train our people beyond introduction and give the capital at the very end.

Thank you for your time and consideration Sir.

Muhammad Sani Usman, is a graduate of Industrial chemistry from Kaduna state. Can be reached via muhdusman1999@gmail.com.

By Abubakar Aminu Ibrahim

Communication is vital to human interaction, influencing relationships, emotions, and outcomes. In all languages, the impact of communication skills is profound, especially in expressions of greetings, well-wishing, congratulations, condolences, and the like. While these expressions are often used to convey positive intentions and goodwill, how they are communicated can significantly affect the recipient’s feelings and perceptions.

In Hausa culture, for example, greetings are essential to daily interactions, reflecting respect, courtesy, and social harmony. Appropriations of greetings demonstrate politeness and establish a positive tone for communication. However, the impact of greetings goes beyond mere words; it encompasses the tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions. A warm and sincere greeting can make the recipient feel valued and respected, while a cold or indifferent greeting may convey disinterest or disrespect, leading to negative feelings.

Well-wishing is another crucial aspect of communication in our daily encounters, especially in the context of prayers for someone’s well-being or success. This is something that seems cordial yet can be volatile. Whether it is praying for someone to have a child, to get rid of poverty, or to find a job, how these wishes are expressed matters significantly. The spot where such utterances are made can make or mar the situation.

For example, when offering prayers for someone to have a child, it is quite unnecessary to say it to their face. It is often like reminding them and telling those around them how childless they are! Then, is it really necessary? Prayers can be both general or precise, thanks to the fact that Allah is always aware of our inner intentions. Thus, such prayers can be positively concealed in a more general term. “May Allah offer your wishes”, “May Allah reward you with Jannah/bless your family”, etc., cannot harm, I guess.

A similar reproach is often experienced when offering consolations. The manner, tone and words used can reflect civility and ensure privacy yet remain empathetic, hopeful, and positive. A well-expressed prayer can uplift the recipient’s spirits and strengthen their resolve. In contrast, a poorly articulated wish may appear insincere or lacking in empathy, potentially causing emotional distress. Consider a situation where an ill person (who needs support and encouragement) is constantly being told how he is wasting weight! Is that consoling or condemning? Instead of extending the tender support required, we often extend emotional pain and wash away the little drops of hope in the patient.

Similarly, congratulations are often extended to celebrate achievements or milestones in a person’s life. Whether congratulating someone on a promotion, a wedding, or any other accomplishment, the manner of expression can enhance or diminish the recipient’s joy. A heartfelt congratulatory message conveys genuine happiness and support, whereas a superficial or casual expression may undermine the significance of the achievement, leading to feelings of disappointment or devaluation.

In conclusion, the impact of communication skills is profound, especially in expressions of greetings, well-wishing, congratulations, condolences, and their likes. How these expressions are communicated can significantly affect the recipient’s feelings and perceptions, shaping the quality of interpersonal relationships. Without diplomacy and sensitivity in communication, even well-intentioned expressions can have unintended negative consequences. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate effective communication skills to convey goodwill and ensure that our words and actions do not inadvertently cause harm. Without diplomacy, we may do more harm than good despite our noble intentions.

Abubakar Aminu Ibrahim wrote from Katsina via matazu247@gmail.com.

By Ladi Ibrahim

Early marriage, also known as child marriage, remains a persistent issue in Nigeria, where cultural traditions, poverty, and limited access to education contribute to this harmful practice. Despite significant progress made in addressing child marriage globally, Nigeria still grapples with high rates of early marriage, adversely affecting the lives of countless young girls. This article aims to illuminate the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to this deeply rooted societal problem.

Several factors contribute to the prevalence of early marriage in Nigeria. Cultural norms and traditions play a pivotal role, with many communities believing that marrying off their daughters at a young age protects their honour and ensures their future safety. Poverty is another critical factor, as families with limited resources may see marrying their daughters off early as an economic relief or an attempt to secure a better life for them.

Furthermore, lack of access to quality education, especially for girls, perpetuates the cycle of early marriage. Limited educational opportunities deprive young girls of the chance to develop essential skills, pursue independent livelihoods, and gain awareness about their rights. Additionally, prevailing gender inequalities and discrimination further exacerbate the problem, limiting gender equality and social progress.

Early marriage has detrimental effects on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of young girls. Firstly, it exposes them to serious health risks, as their bodies are often not fully developed to bear children, resulting in complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Early marriage also robs girls of their right to education, denying them the chance to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

Moreover, young brides often face economic hardships, lacking the necessary skills or education to secure stable employment. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty, subsequently affecting future generations. Early marriage is also linked to a higher incidence of domestic violence, mental health issues, and limited decision-making power for girls and women within their households.

Addressing the issue of early marriage in Nigeria requires a holistic approach that involves multiple stakeholders, including the government, civil society organisations, religious leaders, and communities. 

 Enhancing access to quality education, particularly for girls, is pivotal to breaking the cycle of early marriage. This can be achieved by providing scholarships, building schools closer to rural communities, and promoting educational campaigns focused on child rights and gender equality.

Strengthening existing laws that criminalise child marriage is essential, accompanied by strict enforcement mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable. Providing young girls with vocational training and economic opportunities can dismantle the economic rationale behind early marriage. Such initiatives can help them gain financial independence and empower them to make informed choices.

 Collaborating with religious and community leaders to change social norms and customs that perpetuate early marriage is crucial. Obtaining their support and involvement is vital for building awareness and changing mindsets.

Expanding healthcare facilities and services in rural areas, specifically aimed at addressing the unique needs of young brides, can contribute to reducing the health risks associated with early pregnancy and childbirth.

Early marriage continues to be a significant challenge in Nigeria, depriving countless young girls of their rights and potential. By addressing the root causes of this practice through education, legal reforms, economic empowerment, community engagement, and access to healthcare, Nigeria can pave the way for a brighter future for its girls. Efforts to end early marriage require synergy, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to ensuring that every child in Nigeria has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and determine their destiny.

Ladi Ibrahim wrote from the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.