Minister of Women Affairs sues Niger State House of Assembly speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 orphaned girls as part of his constituency project

Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has filed a petition with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to prevent the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state. The speaker of the Niger state house of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, had announced plans to sponsor the wedding of these girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency. Sarkindaji clarified that he was only financing the weddings, not forcing the girls into marriage, amidst public outcry.

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye condemned the plan, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the girls’ futures. She pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure the girls receive education and vocational training under the ministry’s supervision.

She said;“I want to let the honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government. Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual. These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered. So I have gone to court. 

I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police. And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them. 

As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially. The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children. Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”