Tope Delano
The menace of child marriage in the Northern part of the country does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Twitter woke up to the story of a young couple barely 18 who had just tied the knot. The photo immediately sparked an online outrage on why this sort of marriage still continues despite the year being 2019.
Child marriage which has long been a part of the Northern culture has always been a thing of great displeasure for many and a couple of celebrities have used their platforms to speak against it.
Here are 5 celebrities who have spoken against child marriage.
Wale Gates
The UK-based comedian took to Twitter a few hours ago to state his displeasure about the trending photos of two young couples. A Twitter user had tweeted ”Early marriage is better than early fornication. Support your children to get married early if you can afford. You will help their life in this world and hereafter,” a tweet that irked Wale who immediately responded saying;
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Early marriage doesn’t stop fornication or sleeping around. ”Support your children (barely educated teenagers with no jobs) to get married early if you can afford it.” And to those who can’t sell them off to an old man that can?
Stella Damasus
The US-based Nigerian actress went up against Senator Yerima during an interview on Al-Jazeera speaking against child marriage.
Yerima during the debate had re-affirmed that he married his fourth wife when she was 14 years and sees absolutely nothing wrong in what he did as the 14-year-old wife has also shown her feelings for The award-winning actress counter-argued, citing several Child rights charters signed by Nigeria adding that those breaking the agreements should be made to face the law.
Tonto Dikeh
The actress took to her Facebook page a few years ago to register her displeasure at the concept of early marriage. According to the mom of one, she will not for the life of her understand how Nigerian senators would sign child marriage into law. Tonto went on to call the senators names adding that she is joining forces with Stella to put an end to it.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
The veteran actress also reacted to the Senate signing the child marriage bill into the law by kicking against it. In her words;
“I am today one of the most influential person/people in the world because I wasn’t given off to marriage before the age of 18.
“It scares and totally shocks me that the Senate in Nigeria (the most populous black nation in the world and giant of Africa) would not be passing in a law ensuring that every child should compulsorily be enrolled in school.
“A very alarming number of children today are on the streets hawking or have been abused, raped or are married to men/women who should be protecting them. Who protects the children of Nigeria? Would we wait for another Milala before we act? Should we now remove the parental caution on movies that say ‘Not for persons below 18’?
“This is a call for justice and equity for children especially the Nigerian girl child, who has the right to quality education, a childhood and the decision of whom and when to marry.
“My Name is Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and I say No to phedophilia and No to the Senate bill endorsing child marriage in Nigeria.
Genevieve Nnaji
The actress in an interview with Breaking Views With Unicef advocated for girls right saying the country must allow every girl child grow up into the woman of their dreams and not cut their lives away at a young age.
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