The fundamental identity of the girl-child and Nigerian laws

Abstract

Girls are often discriminated against in Nigeria in access to educational opportunity, food, and nutrition. Girls carry a heavy encumbrance of farm work and house work. They are married off at early ages, which hampers with their education or acquisition of skills needed for survival. It is fact driven that the Nigerian girl-child has encountered some forms of challenges as a result of cultural, religious, political and social beliefs. Some of these challenges include inter alia early marriage, pregnancy, violence at home and school, and lack of funding. This study examines the concept and decisive issues involved in the protection of the girl-child which holds that in every action concerning a child, whether undertaken by an individual, public or private body, the best interest of the child shall be the primary purpose. It aims at reawakening the consciousness of the Nigerian society towards the need for the protection of the girl-child as seen and practiced at the global stage and domesticated by the Nigerian legislature. It identifies socio-cultural norms, religious misconceptions, poverty, teenage pregnancy and early marriage amongst others as factors weighing against the survival of the girl-child in Nigeria. It outlines the role our laws have adopted in protecting the girl-child. Considering the positive impact of girl-child education and protection, the study suggests full compliance of the extant laws for the rights of children by the States of the Federation.