CITAD and ActionAid Nigeria Advocate for Girls' Education

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, called for increased government investment in girls' education and stronger parental responsibility to combat poverty and early marriage. Yesmin Salako, a programme officer at CITAD, made this appeal during an event in Abuja commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child.

The project, funded by ActionAid Nigeria, involves 12 adolescent girls from rural communities who identified child marriage as a significant issue through their research. The girls advocated for intervention from local council representatives to sensitize parents about the consequences of early marriage.

Salako highlighted that child marriage undermines girls' education, with a reported 30 percent school dropout rate in the community. She emphasized the importance of equipping girls with digital skills and announced plans for a digital resource center.

Salako identified poverty as a key driver of early marriage, as some parents marry off daughters due to financial constraints, and urged parents to take responsibility for their children's education and welfare.