In an remarkable effort to combat child marriage, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Eleva Foundation have successfully rescued at least 20 adolescent girls from early marriages in Sokoto State over the past two months.
Speaking to the News men during a field visit to the Child-Friendly Space Centre in Dange Shuni Local Government Area, Nenman Calvin, a counselor at the centre, highlighted the growing impact of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Adolescent Girls Project.
She revealed that the initiative rescues between five and ten girls each month, most of them aged 13 to 15. Many of these young girls, she noted, dream of returning to school and pursuing careers in nursing, hoping to become agents of change in their communities.
The centre does more than just rescue—it also works with families, offering counseling to encourage parents to support their daughters’ education. But Calvin stressed the need for more government support, particularly financial assistance, to ensure the initiative reaches more vulnerable girls.
Meanwhile, Unicef child protection specialist, Pius Uwamanua, explained that the centre provides a safe space for girls at risk. It offers mentorship, life skills training, and vocational programmes, including knitting, tailoring, cosmetology, and shoemaking. More importantly, it provides psychosocial support and legal aid for victims of early marriage and gender-based violence.
One of the rescued girls shared her story, revealing how she was pressured into early marriage but managed to escape with a friend’s help. Thanks to the mentorship programme, she was able to convince her mother to oppose the marriage, ultimately persuading her father to abandon the plan for both her and her sister. Now, she is committed to educating other girls in her community about the dangers of child marriage.
Commending the initiative, Alhaji Muhammad Jabbi, the district head of Gagi Area in Sokoto South LGA, urged the government to expand the programme and take full ownership of the initiative. With continued support from Unicef and other partners, he believes Sokoto State can significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve educational opportunities for young girls.
For now, the rescued girls are hopeful for a brighter future, proving that with the right support, change is possible.
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