The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has initiated legal action against Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, for his intention to finance the marriages of 100 girls.

During a press conference in Abuja on Monday, May 13, 2024, the minister announced her decision to seek judicial intervention and has also filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police regarding the issue.

Sarkin-Daji disclosed his plan as part of a community initiative for his Maringa constituency, aiming to support the nuptials of 100 girls, including those orphaned by insurgency.

He noted that he has already procured materials for the ceremony, scheduled for May 24, 2024, and is committed to covering the bride price for the grooms.

The announcement sparked public concern, prompting Sarkin-Daji to assert that his involvement was limited to financing the weddings, not coercing the girls into marriage.

In contrast with Sarkin-Daji's stance, Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye condemned the plan as inappropriate, emphasizing that the girls' futures, particularly their education and vocational training, should take precedence. She pledged that her ministry would assume responsibility for these aspects of the girls' development.

“I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So, I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.

“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially. The Women Affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”