Ebonyi still top on girl-child marriage

The federal government said Ebonyi state is still top among the states with persistent high rate of early marriage of girls.

The government however appealed to governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, to address the issue, adding that arresting the early girl child marriage is essential to president Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration.

• Ebonyi to set up special court for herders, rape cases
• Girl-child marriage: Experts want NASS clear on consent age

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen made this known when she paid a courtesy call to the governor on Friday.

The visit was for the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of 13,000 cooking gas for rural women in the state.

Daily Trust gathered that the flag-off ceremony took place at Onueke in Ezza South local government area of the state.

Her Words; “the girl child is top in Mr. President’s agenda and I want all of you to join me in the course.

“The education of the girl child is the most investments any government and family can do and that is why the federal government is investing so much in the education of the girl child.

“Also, the issue of early marriage is still rampant in the country, and Ebonyi state is still one of the states with higher index cases.

“So I want to appeal that the issue should be addressed very seriously and how do we do that is to see that those children attend basic education and higher institution”, she explained.

She further called on the state to also implement the child’s right and the vibe acts.

“The other appeal is to domesticate the child right act and the vibe act in the state,” she noted.

Responding, Governor Umahi said that his administration has maintained the implementation of the 35 percent affirmative action.

Umahi was represented by the deputy governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe.