In a powerful step toward community-driven advocacy, the National Coalition of Civil Society to End Child Marriage in Nigeria recently held a strategic meeting with members of the FCT Traditional Rulers’ Wives Association, deepening collaboration around the urgent issue of child marriage.
With over 30 organizations in the FCT alone working under the coalition’s umbrella, this advocacy meeting aimed to bridge policy and practice by bringing influential community leaders’ wives into the heart of the conversation. Their role as cultural gatekeepers and trusted voices in their communities positions them uniquely to challenge harmful norms, amplify the importance of girls’ education, and help dismantle systems that perpetuate child marriage.
Amplifying Grassroots Influence
“You are the grassroots,” a coalition representative said during the meeting.
“Most child marriages happen within communities. If you lend your voices to this cause, we can shift perceptions and reduce the practice where it starts.”
The session highlighted the Coalition’s holistic approach—combining education, leadership, mentorship, and policy advocacy—to empower girls and address the structural drivers of child marriage. Member organizations work across areas such as scholarships, gender equality, and STEM education for girls, with the collective aim of ensuring every girl can reach her full potential.
Policy Tools for Action
The coalition presented its abridged Policy and Stakeholder Research and Analysis on Child Marriage in Nigeria, a national-level document offering a breakdown of:
- The key drivers of child marriage across Nigeria’s regions
- The policy gaps, constitutional contradictions, and cultural challenges
- Evidence-based recommendations for legal, educational, and social reforms
The Role of Traditional Institutions
The discussion acknowledged the vital role of traditional leaders’ wives in shaping public perception and influencing families. They were encouraged to:
- Champion girls’ education within their communities
- Speak against early marriage and raise awareness of its health and psychological effects
- Model positive behaviors that support girls’ aspirations
- Engage religious and traditional leaders, creating safe spaces for dialogue
- Support grassroots initiatives that protect and empower girls
The coalition also proposed capacity-building and orientation sessions for palace members to better respond to cases of abuse and child rights violations brought before traditional institutions.
A Call to Partnership
“We are not here just to speak—we are here to work with you. To partner with you. To walk this journey together.”
The wives of traditional rulers responded with openness and encouragement. They shared firsthand experiences of abuse and violations in their communities, and their collective readiness to support awareness campaigns, school outreach, and cultural re-education was evident.
The meeting closed with a strong mutual commitment to collaboration, advocacy, and shared action. The Coalition reaffirmed its availability to support training, sensitization efforts, and policy-focused engagement with traditional leaders at all levels.
The Bigger Picture
Child marriage is not just a cultural issue—it is a violation of rights, a gender-based violence issue, and a barrier to national development. As the Coalition continues to work toward ending child marriage nationwide, partnerships like this—grounded in community wisdom, cultural authority, and collective will—are the key to lasting impact.
This is advocacy beyond the podium. This is action at the grassroots.
#EndChildMarriageNG #GirlsRights #CommunityAdvocacy #TraditionalLeadersForChange #ProtectOurGirls #CYPF #CoalitionForChange
