RismadarVoice Reporters, May 17, 2026
A 16-year-old girl in Borno State has narrated how economic hardship and family challenges led her to choose marriage after being faced with the option of remaining at home without schooling.
The teenager, whose identity was withheld, shared her experience during a media dialogue organised by the PAGED Initiative in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
She explained that she had completed Junior Secondary School Three before dropping out after her family’s circumstances changed following the demolition of her father’s business premises.
According to her, her father, a mechanic, lost his workshop along the Borno Expressway corridor after the state government carried out demolitions to pave the way for a flyover project.
She said the development significantly affected the family’s financial condition and made it difficult for her to continue her education.
The teenager stated that after months of hardship, she was presented with two choices remain at home without returning to school or get married.
She said she was not forced into the marriage but made the decision based on what she believed was the most realistic option at the time.
According to her, part of the understanding before the marriage was that her husband would support her return to school, but six months after the union, that has yet to happen due to financial challenges.
Despite her current situation, she said she still hopes to continue her education and fulfil her ambition of becoming a medical doctor.
Meanwhile, Programme Director of the PAGED Initiative, Umi Bukar, said similar situations were common across parts of Northern Nigeria, where many girls face difficult choices between education and early marriage.
She called for stronger legislation that would ensure children complete at least secondary school education before leaving school.
Bukar also urged government authorities to improve access to schools, particularly in rural communities, and strengthen enforcement of compulsory education policies to reduce school dropouts and child marriage cases.
