Kano, Nigeria — The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has attributed the persistence of child marriage in parts of northern Nigeria to government failure, particularly the lack of adequate educational and developmental opportunities for young girls after primary school.
Sanusi made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a programme aired on Channels Television, where he discussed issues bordering on culture, education, and social reform.
According to the former Central Bank governor, public conversations on child marriage often miss the deeper structural problems that push families into such decisions. He noted that in many northern communities, girls complete primary education at a very young age but are left without access to secondary schools, vocational training, or skill-acquisition centres.
“In many places, there is a primary school and that’s it,” the monarch said. “There’s no secondary school, no skill centre, and no structured plan for what comes next in the girl’s life.”
Sanusi explained that for many poor families, marrying off young girls is driven more by fear and uncertainty than by cultural preference. He added that parents often see marriage as the only available option in the absence of education, safety, or economic support.
The Emir also criticised urban narratives that oversimplify the issue, arguing that they fail to account for the harsh realities in rural communities. He highlighted poor infrastructure, unsafe roads, distant or non-existent schools, and weak local government presence as major contributing factors.
Sanusi called for a more honest national conversation that focuses on fixing education, infrastructure, and social services, stressing that child marriage cannot be effectively addressed without tackling these root causes.
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