UNICEF: 40% of Nigerian Women Married Before 18

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns regarding child marriage in Nigeria, revealing that two in five young women are married before the age of 18. Additionally, six in ten Nigerian children experience some form of abuse.

UNICEF announced plans to enhance its child protection interventions by focusing on child abuse, child marriage, and poor birth registration in its new country strategy. This strategy will shape the 2028–2032 Country Programme and aims to strengthen government-led systems to protect Nigerian children from violence and exploitation.

During the Child Protection Mid-Year Review in Abuja, Natalie McCauley, UNICEF's Chief of Child Protection, emphasized the importance of using evidence to drive future interventions. She noted that only two in five children under five have their births registered, highlighting significant urban-rural disparities.

Despite progress made in 2025, McCauley warned that national achievements often mask inequalities affecting children in vulnerable communities.