Teach Girls Their Rights in School to Stop Child Marriage in Oyo State

Oyo State already has a good law (the Child Rights Law 2006) that says no one under 18 can get married. Any marriage with a person under 18 is illegal and not valid. The problem is that many girls and parents still do not know about this law or how to report it when it happens.

It is important that the Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women Affairs, start a compulsory programme in all secondary schools. Students should learn about the Maputo Protocol, the Child Rights Law, the rule that marriage must be at 18 or older, the need for free and full consent, and the rights of girls. Teachers and Guidance Counsellors should be trained so they can teach these lessons well and help students who report problems. Schools and local governments should also create simple and private ways for people to report child marriage or forced betrothal. At the same time, the government should work with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community groups so the message reaches villages and rural areas.

This kind of approach has already worked in several European countries. Sweden was the first country in the world to make lessons about relationships, consent, and rights compulsory in all schools (starting in 1955). It still teaches these topics today and keeps the marriage age strictly at 18 with no exceptions. The Netherlands teaches about respect, consent, healthy relationships, and personal boundaries from a very young age.

These lessons are mandatory and have helped create better attitudes among young people. The country also keeps the marriage age at 18 with no exceptions. Germany made marriage under 18 completely illegal in 2017 (no exceptions) and continues to use school education and support services to protect young people. Sweden led the way with school education on these issues many decades ago. Other countries later followed with similar programs and stronger laws.

Several African countries are already doing similar work and have shown that combining school education, community efforts, and strong laws can reduce child marriage. Ethiopia has made clear progress, with the rate of child marriage dropping from 40 percent in 2016 to 32 percent in 2025. The government works with communities, trains teachers, supports school clubs, keeps girls in school, and involves religious and traditional leaders.

Programmes that combine school support with community conversations have been especially successful. Rwanda linked free education policies with big reductions in child marriage by helping more girls stay in school longer. Kenya and Ghana run school-based awareness and life-skills programmes, work with communities, and promote zero tolerance for child marriage while supporting girls’ education. Malawi has a strong example of traditional leaders working with the law to cancel child marriages and protect girls.

These African examples show that when governments combine clear laws, school teaching about rights and consent, teacher training, easy reporting systems, and real partnership with community and traditional leaders, child marriage can be reduced and girls can stay in school longer.

If Oyo State adopts the same practical approach, it will protect more girls, help them finish school, and fully put into practice both the Child Rights Law and the Maputo Protocol.