Despite efforts to improve access and quality education in Sokoto State, and to bring to the barest minimum- high rate of out-of-school children, the menace persists, and with several adolescent girls at the receiving end in the name of early marriage. Lulu Bankong writes that with the involvement of UNICEF and ELEVA Foundation, the narrative is changing as more adolescent girls are becoming entrepreneurs with a better future outside formal education.

Shuni is a traditional and peasant community located in Dange-Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
It is approximately 30-40 kilometres drive from the state capital also known as the Seat of the Caliphate.

Belonging predominantly to the Hausa-Fulani ethnic group- one of Nigeria’s largest nationalities, Shuni is known for its rich culture, agricultural practices and strong community ties with a general characterized adherence to Islamic values, politics, and communal living- where family and social relationships hold significant importance.

However, despite the people’s unique and positive philosophy towards life, Shuni seems to be a pariah community in catching up with the rest of human civilisation as far as the formal education of its adolescent girls is concerned. More disturbing, is the status of being out-of-school and married off as young girls without consideration to the consequences which are shrouded in the belief that the outcomes are in absolute agreement with the supreme being.

Factors revealed to be responsible for the early marriages of the girls who should constitutionally be in school, include cultural norms, economic imbalance, religious influence, protection of social values and limited educational opportunities amongst others.

It is against this background that the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with ELEVA Foundation have taken upon themselves to reach out to the vulnerable girls and change their narratives by giving them a new meaning to life through skills acquisition that has led to entrepreneurship.

A case in point is that of Faisa Bello, a 16- year old adolescent girl who is one amongst the over 200 out-of school girls undergoing skills acquisition training at the Child Friendly Community Multipurpose Centre in the state.

Faisa Bello, Beneficiary of UNICEF Training Program for out-of-school Adolescent girls in Sokoto State

In her own words speaking through an interpreter, in her native Hausa language, Faisa narrates her experience which is indeed transformational. She stated that, “My coming to this centre six months ago has really helped in transforming my entire life, way of thinking, approach to life especially as it concerns early marriage which is common in some parts of Northern Nigeria where I come from.”

I never thought that any form of school will be possible in my life as most young girls my age get married off to older men, and end up being full time house wives. This has always led to giving birth at an early age which in several cases has led to life threatening situations- thereby distorting their lives, future and destiny.

When this centre was built, I became one of the beneficiaries and started attending classes for different kinds of training such as self awareness sessions, cosmetology, knitting and sewing amongst others. It was then that I started thinking of how to improve myself and how to start generating income for myself and my family.”

Faisa said the training has emboldened her to be able to stand up for herself, and exposure to it has given her a different type of orientation with broader perspectives towards early marriage.

Speaking further, she asserted that “After attending some of the self awareness sessions, it enabled me to resolve a serious marital issue between my sister and her husband due to the insights I had been receiving since I started attending sessions in this centre”.

She added that she had benefited a lot from the classes, and can now make products that she sells to earn some income for herself .She also expressed her willingness to encourage young people to join the classes using herself as an example.

Highlighting additional benefits of the training programme, she noted that “I now know that I should not be forced into marriage, but get into it willingly. My hygiene is now on a different level all because of the training I have been receiving here”.

Faisa thanked UNICEF and ELEVA Foundation for bringing the programme to her community and prayed for the expansion of the centre to other communities so that more young girls like her could also benefit from it, while reiterating that even without any formal education, the programme has changed her life for good.

Describing herself as a new advocate for young girls’ education, she concluded by praying that the government should also support the initiative so that more girls could benefit and be economically empowered. She solicited for the provision of stipends to trainees upon completion of the training as a supplement to what UNICEF is currently providing to them to add to their small, but transformational businesses.

Speaking on the gains of setting up the Child Friendly Community Centre in Shuni village, the Executive Coordinator for Center for People’s Health, Peace and Progress, Cecilia Eseme, who is also responsible for supporting the sessions, said one of the survivors whose name and picture was not allowed because of stigmatization has been battling with the issue and pressure of early marriage.

However, with teachings from the programme about the many disadvantages and likely dangers of early marriage, as well as the need to resist such dangerous mentality, the counselors are already counseling her on what she needs to do, and the proper ways to go about their advise so that she can stand firm and unwavering.

According to her: “This is because the girls know that when they come to the surveillance team, there will be a follow-up to the issue by meeting with members of the girl’s family so that it is not only the girl that is counseled to stand. The families are also brought together so that they can reason together to make sure that the aspect of early marriage becomes a thing of the past.”

Cecilia Eseme, Executive Coordinator for Center for People’s Health, Peace and Progress

Mrs. Eseme also explained that the magnitude of the issue sometimes may warrant them taking the case to the police and court, but some of the social issues are usually resolved by the surveillance team, traditional rulers and others.

“I am also very proud to say that this program has given girls a voice to talk- otherwise, nobody will come complaining that they are being pressurised to get married. So, that means the programme is a success story, moreso that they know they just can’t marry because somebody told them to marry, or to just marry someone because they were told to marry. It’s a huge success, which has never happened before”.

Mr. Pius Uwamanoa, child protection specialist for Sokoto field office, covering Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto offices, while explaining the purpose of the centre, said it is a one stop centre where civic education, civic rights, leadership, adolescent and reproductive health issues, negotiation skills, refusal skills, decision-making skills and setting goals are thoroughly taught and inculcated.

Pius Uwamanoa, child protection specialist for Sokoto field office

He said for every services that is provided for them, such is also being documented and they ensure that the children go through the cycle of complete case management until they get the services they have.

“We have about 200 plus students in this center. Now, this program was actually a two-year program, but for sustainability purposes, the CSOs are supporting the process, and then the process goes on, it does not end with the project. The government is there, some of the things you see, they were being donated by the CSOs and the government also, so it leads beyond the life project lifespan.”

It is important to note that practices and beliefs about marriage can vary significantly even within communities, and not all individuals or families adhere to the norm of early marriage. Efforts are also being made by various organizations and grassroots initiatives to raise awareness about the benefits of delaying marriage and pursuing education for girls, which can empower communities and improve socio-economic conditions.