Kano, northwestern Nigeria — As the number of out-of-school children grows in northern Nigeria, Amb. Muhammad Isa Umaru, emir of Rano in southern Kano, has barred parents from marrying off their daughters before completing primary school across the Rano Emirate Council.
This is coming as a swift intervention to empower young girls with the opportunity to escape child marriage and access quality education without fear of parental withdrawal in most rural communities.
Nasiru Habu Faragai, the Rano Emirate Secretary, disclosed the development in an interview with Kano-based online media Arewa Updates.
According to Faragai, the emir made the revelation while delivering a remark at a ceremony organised by the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to enrol children back into schools for the 2025/2026 session in the Lausu community of Rano LGA.
“The emir warned district heads, village heads, Fulani leaders, religious organisations and parents to ensure compliance with the policy, as defaulters will face the wrath of the law without any hesitation.
“At any level, any family involved in withdrawing their children from school to marry off the child will be punished accordingly, so it will be detrimental to others; children must be given the chance for education.
“We are in an era where only education can save one from calamities and challenges in life, so the only hope we can give generations is education. Without education, our children will be hopeless in the future.
“So I urge compliance and support from every citizen so we can have our children thriving in every sector of the country and make us proud of our investment in their lives to be better than us.” He added.
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