Nigeria

Formed in December 2015, the National Coalition on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria (from here on, the Coalition) is currently comprised of over 100 CSO members – about 32 of which are also members of Girls Not Brides – working across the country’s six geopolitical zones. Individual coalition members engage with schools, parents and community and faith leaders to transform discriminatory norms and practices. Working in and with schools and government service providers, they also support girls’ access to education and adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH), rights and services; girls’ participation in decision-making; girls’ life, livelihood, leadership and advocacy skills; and citizen-led budget advocacy.

The Coalition has developed tools and messages to help its members work collectively to address child marriage in Nigeria. These include an advocacy strategy and multi-year action plan to end child marriage, a review of policy advocacy gaps and opportunities, including regional policy advocacy opportunities, supporting communities to develop bylaws to address child marriage and the rights of girls, co-hosting (with other girls-focused organisations) the State of the Nigerian Girls Summit. It also offers “Knowledge to Action” webinars, for members focused on experience-sharing and peer reviewing members’ activities and interventions, to share promising practice and build members’ capacity for collective action to address child marriage.

The Coalition has also contributed to the review of the National Strategy and Costed Action Plan on Ending Child Marriage in Nigeria 2024-2030, an action that will strengthen both government and civil society efforts to end child marriage in Nigeria.

The Secretariat of the National Coalition is held by Child and Youth Protection Foundation (CYPF).