Just Saying

  Yesterday, the senate committee charged with the review of the Nigerian constitution passed an ammendment to nullify the previous age of 18 years as the legal minimum age at which a woman could marry (or be married off).in the country. This issue was raised by Senator Yerima Sani, who married a 13yr old Egyptian girl, despite the federal law.His reason for recommending the change, he said, was to put the constitution in accordance with certain aspects of Islamic law which permit marriage once a female has reached puberty. Even though, this is just a draft of the amendments to be made. NOW is the time to be vocal. Now is the time for us to stand up and be counted before this amendment is passed into law. Statistics of child brides Evidence shows that girls who marry early often abandon formal education and become pregnant.  Child brides are at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation (UNICEF, State of the World’s Children, 2009)  If a mother is under the age of 18, h