A move by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, to sponsor the marriage of 100 girls has sparked outrage and legal action from the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.
The minister has taken the matter to court, seeking to halt the controversial plan and ensure the welfare and rights of the girls involved.
Addressing reporters in Abuja on Monday, Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye revealed that she has also lodged a formal complaint with the Inspector-General of Police, urging a thorough investigation into Sarkin-Daji’s intentions.
The slated event, scheduled for May 24, has drawn significant scrutiny, prompting swift action from concerned authorities.
The Niger State lawmaker had previously announced his intention to fund the wedding ceremony for 100 girls, including those orphaned by insurgency, as part of his constituency project in Maringa.
Despite facing criticism, he maintained that the initiative aimed to support the girls and facilitate their transition into married life, even offering to cover the bridegrooms’ dowries.
In response to the public outcry, the speaker clarified that his involvement was purely financial and emphasized that the girls were not being coerced into marriage.
However, Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye vehemently opposes the plan, asserting that the well-being and future prospects of the girls must be safeguarded.
Expressing her concern, Kennedy-Ohanenye underscored the importance of prioritizing the girls’ education and vocational training.
She affirmed the Ministry of Women Affairs’ commitment to assuming responsibility for their welfare and ensuring they have access to opportunities for personal and professional development.
She said, “I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House in Niger State know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.
“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.
“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.
“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.
“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.
“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially. The Women Affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.
“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.
“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”
As the legal battle unfolds and public discourse intensifies, the fate of the 100 girls hangs in the balance, highlighting broader issues surrounding gender equality, child welfare, and the role of government in protecting vulnerable populations.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.