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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

We crave Western education, Borno girls who married as teenagers seek govt support

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Teenage girls married in Maiduguri, Borno State, are appealing to the government for access to education.
  • They expressed a strong desire for Western education to improve their future prospects and contribute to society.
  • Challenges include lack of awareness about existing adult learning centers and difficulties with proximity and mobility.

Young women in Maiduguri, Borno State, who were married as teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16, are urging the government to expand educational opportunities. These women, primarily from the Tashan Kangele community, believe that access to education is crucial for redefining their aspirations and enabling them to contribute more meaningfully to society.

Many of the women stated they were unaware of adult and second-chance learning centers in the state. They highlighted issues of proximity and mobility as significant barriers to accessing education. The women expressed a strong desire for Western education, valuing the chance to receive formal schooling.

I want to go to school. I crave education.

— Fatima UmarA 22-year-old divorced woman in Maiduguri expressing her strong desire for education.

Fatima Umar, 22, who is divorced, shared her experience of marrying at 16. Her marriage ended after she expressed a desire to pursue education, inspired by her co-wife's professional achievements. "I want to go to school. I crave education," Fatima stated, emphasizing her wish to become a working-class woman before turning 30. Her education had previously stopped at Primary Five, with little significant learning acquired.

I am 18 years old. I got married at the age of 14. I now have two children. I have never been to school. If there is a means for me to go back to school, I will be glad because it will help me to care for my children and for them to also be educated.

— Maryam AbbaAn 18-year-old woman in Maiduguri describing her situation and wish to attend school.

Maryam Abba, 18, married at 14 and now a mother of two, has never attended school. She expressed a strong willingness to return to education, believing it would help her care for her children and ensure they receive an education. However, she noted that many girls in her community are unsure if educational facilities exist locally.

Aisha Usman, married at 13 after her mother's death, cited financial constraints as a major impediment to her returning to school. The women's appeals underscore a critical need for accessible and awareness-driven educational programs for married adolescent girls in the region.

I was 13 when I was married off. When I lost my mum, I was married off to a family member, a cousin precisely. I just want to return to school to lear

— Aisha UsmanA woman in Maiduguri explaining the circumstances of her early marriage and her desire to resume education.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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