SHOCKER: 43% of Nigerian girls pregnant before 18

– The latest report by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that almost half of girls in Nigeria are impregnated before they clock 18 years.

– The report noted that Nigeria alone accounts for 47 per cent of out-of-school girls. The out-of-school rate differs between boys and girls

The latest report by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that almost half of girls in Nigeria are impregnated before they clock 18 years.

The report titled “State of the World Population 2016”, noted that Nigeria alone accounts for 47 per cent of out-of-school girls. The out-of-school rate differs between boys and girls.

The report sought to ensure girls get adequate care and support they need from their parents, society and government to enable them become successful in future.

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Deputy country representative of UNFPA, Mr Eugene Kongnyuy, said while giving the overview of Nigeria’s portion of the report: “If we look at data from Nigeria, we find that 43 per cent of girls get married before 18, and 17 per cent of them even before 15. “We notice that for girls that are not in school, the percentage is even higher, it is 82 per cent. They will get married before 18. But, this varies between states. “In the South-East states, it is just 10 per cent. In the North-West, it is 75 per cent. You see how things happen in geographic variations.

“For children who have completed secondary school, only 13 per cent of them get married (immediately) after secondary school. This is disastrous, we have to change this. We must change. We cannot achieve the SDGs if these figures remain the way they are.”

Kongnyuy explained that more than half of 10 years old girls are living in countries with highest level of gender inequality, and that if countries of the world do not tackle discrimination, the expected rate of growth would not be achieved.

“Nigeria alone accounts for 47 per cent of out-of-school girls. The out-of-school rate differs between boys and girls.

“There are more boys in school than girls, although the out-of-school is still high for both.

“We equally noticed that even in some areas, like in the north, two-third of girls participate in generating household income. “Less than one percent of them have a bank, which implies that they are working for other people, they are not paid for what they are doing.

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“Almost 11 million of children in junior secondary age are out of school. And, almost five million children of primary school age are out of school. “Now, this is what we do concerning child labour when we do analysis of data from different countries.

“We realize that child labour rates are higher in countries with the highest proportion of 10 year old population.

“What does this imply? It implies that when there are many children, and this is because in a family, you have 10 children, and you are not ready to feed those 10 children. They have to work. So, there must be child labour somewhere. Dependency ratio here is high. In those countries, they force children to work,” he added.

 

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