The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, says about 65 per cent of children below 18 years were forced into marriage in the Northern region.
 
Ms. Alhassan made this known in Abuja at the launch of national campaign on ending child marriage in Nigeria.
 
She said that the detrimental consequences of child marriage on children, women, families, communities and nations at large were evident.
 
“There are always high maternal mortality and morbidity, illiteracy, lack of skills, unemployment, low income and widespread misery among victims of child marriage, especially female victims.
 
“Child marriage, a formal or an informal launch union of a child before full maturity, which is the age of 18, is associated with various challenges,” Ms. Alhassan said.
 
She said that Nigeria faces the daunting task of harnessing its vast natural and human resources to effectively reduce this harmful practice.
 
According to her, in 2015, an estimate of six million girls were married by the age of 15 years.
 
“Child marriage is prevalent in the North-West and North-East geo-political zones of the country.
 
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