VIVIAN Nelson, an Abuja based rising actress has urged parents not to give out their underage girl children for marriage.
He stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Nelson, a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Abuja, said that the girl-child needs education to the highest level, while it is the duty and responsibility of parents to give their female children education and not marriage.
“The fact that a person is born a female is not a crime; a girl-child has the brain and ability to do what the male-child can do, even better.
“Young girls have a bright future; they want to go to school, get educated and create impact in the society, but early marriage has destroyed most of them.
“Giving out an 11-year-old girl for marriage is a crime against humanity; putting a girl under the stress of marriage at that age is bad.
“They are too young for that; they are to be in school learning. The men cannot do it all; women too have a role to play in the development of society.
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“I would humbly advise parents to shun craving for material things and falling for financial enticement.
“Parents should not use poverty as an excuse to give out their female children for marriage; they should not see their female children as cash cows,’’ Nelson said.
The talented actress, who recently acted the role of Nafisah in a stage drama that discourages girl-child marriage, said that female children have dreams and aspirations.
She emphasised that the parents should love their children and figure out what the children want and not what the parents want for the children.
“Parents should give their female children the chance to make choices and get married at their desired time and not when the parents want or don’t have money.
“I am begging every mother out there to give their female children the chance to go to school to become what they want and get married.
“Giving out underage girls for marriage will destroy them; these girls can die during childbirth. It is not a good experience for a child to become a mother,” Nelson said.
She, however, appealed to government at all levels to intensify efforts to domesticate the Child Right Act.
According to her, the government possesses all the instrument to ensure the effective enforcement of the laws.
“The female children don’t have a voice, because they feel it is part of their tradition; this must stop as it is killing them.
“However, there are laws against such practices; government should create more agencies to fight against girl child marriage.
“Also, female children should be courageous enough to speak out against early marriage; they should talk to their parents, especially their mothers.
“There are agencies and people that could help to reach out to government and in turn reach out to their parents,’’ she said.
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