The Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission (PLASGEOC) has called for stronger community action against child marriage, warning that the practice exposes girls to gender-based violence, trafficking, educational disruption and other forms of abuse.
Chairperson of the Commission, Olivia Dazel, made the call during an engagement to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, held on October 5 at Villa Grand Hotel, Jos, with the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”
Dazel described child marriage as a major contributor to gender-based violence, stressing that it deprives girls of education, limits their opportunities and exposes them to physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
She noted that Plateau State already has legal provisions prohibiting child marriage, including the Child Rights Law 2005, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission Law.
“Early marriage for the girl child exposes her to sexual and gender-based violence. One of the very dangerous consequences is the withdrawal of the child from education or the termination of her educational pursuit. That opportunity terminates her future,” she said.
Dazel urged parents and community leaders to ensure that girls remain in school, acquire skills and become empowered to make informed decisions about their lives. She also encouraged girls to speak out against abuse and other violations of their rights.
Earlier, the Secretary of PLASGEOC, Barrister Nalong Gumut, described the commemoration as a call to action, urging stakeholders to work collectively towards ending early marriage and creating opportunities for girls to thrive.
“Every girl deserves childhood and education and a chance to thrive,” Gumut said, adding that the engagement was designed to enlighten girls on their rights and develop practical strategies for addressing early marriage.
A particularly moving moment at the event was the testimony of a survivor of early marriage, Cinthian, who recounted how teenage pregnancy interrupted her secondary education and led to an abusive marriage.
She further narrated how attempts to seek better opportunities through friends exposed her to human trafficking and sexual exploitation across different countries.
According to her, intervention by the Gender Commission, following contact with her parents, eventually helped facilitate efforts towards her rescue.
Speaking on the rights of the girl child, the Plateau State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Pukuma Uko Felix, said girls are entitled to fundamental rights, including education, identity, freedom of expression, dignity and protection from harmful cultural practices.
He stressed that protecting girls is not merely a moral responsibility but a legal obligation, urging the Commission to extend similar awareness engagements to parents to help them understand their responsibilities.
Also speaking, presenter on child marriage and its consequences, Yonpan Dariem, highlighted its effects on girls’ health, education, safety, livelihood and dignity, urging girls to understand their rights, report abuse and seek help from trusted adults.
Students who participated in the engagement also called for increased awareness, stronger enforcement of existing laws and support for girls affected by early pregnancy.
One of the students, Favour Wetkos of Federal Government College, Jos, stressed the need for government to support affected girls rather than abandon them.
She said, “They should encourage them and make them understand that that is not the end of life. There is more even after pregnancy. They can be single mothers. We have stories of single mothers who have thrived.”
Similarly, Adoh Ethel Joseph Izang of St. Theresa’s Girls College, Jos, called for mental health support, educational assistance and help with childcare for girls who become pregnant early, noting that they should still have opportunities to achieve their ambitions.
Community leaders and representatives of religious and cultural organisations also pledged support for efforts to address the practice.
Ambassador Nanpon Danjuma Sheni of the Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN) reaffirmed the importance of equal opportunities for girls, stressing that they deserve the same education, welfare and privileges as boys.
“I have two daughters, and I am very proud of them. Everything that I should have given to a boy child, I am giving to my girl child,” he said, calling on communities to protect the rights of girls in their homes and societies.
The engagement brought together stakeholders, students, community representatives and government institutions to discuss practical ways of ending child marriage and strengthening the protection of girls across Plateau State.
