While it remains crucial to educate girl children about the perils of child marriage, stakeholders within the education sector have identified puberty as a critical stage that exposes girls to significant risks.

During a community seminar on child marriage organized by the Bella Foundation for Child and sponsored by the EVOCA Foundation and Nommontu Foundation in collaboration with Girls Not Bride (Global Partnership to End Child Marriage), Rise Up Together, and Child Protection Network Maternal Care, held in the Ojo area of Lagos State, Principal Mrs. Violet Akinyemi from Blessing Demonstration College shed light on one of the challenges faced by the girl child during puberty.

Mrs. Akinyemi stated, "During their puberty stage, some of the girls experience confusion as they are drawn towards the male gender, particularly when they encounter expressions of affection such as 'I love you'."

However, Akinyemi emphasized that consistent education and guidance would help steer the girl child in the right direction.

Making a contribution, Pastor Ifejube Edward, the Director of Blessing Demonstration College, urged every girl child to prioritize their education. He emphasized, "Child marriage should be seen as a threat to the girl child, as it has the potential to destroy her future. By concentrating on their studies, girls can pave the way for a promising future. It is during this period that they will attain the necessary maturity to make informed decisions about their future partners. Engaging in child marriage is equivalent to subjecting oneself to a life of slavery."

Expressing her viewpoint, Oladapo Priscilla, an SS 1 student, suggested that minimizing child marriage requires active participation from all parties involved. She emphasized the importance of engaging with young girls about child marriage and its consequences, as well as providing them with comprehensive education. Priscilla believed that by equipping girls with adequate knowledge, both mental poverty and ignorance within the community can be diminished. She further explained that poverty and ignorance often drive girls into child marriage, but with the necessary awareness and understanding, they can empower themselves and serve as positive examples in society.

Expressing her concern, Odonghanrd Dorinda, a Gender Advocate working on the "Ending Child Marriage Project in Nigeria" supported by Girls Not Brides and the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria in collaboration with UNICEF, expressed deep distress over Nigeria's alarming prevalence of child marriage.

Founder of the Bella Foundation for Child and Maternal Care, Bella Akhagba, expressed her reaction by highlighting the alarming percentage of children affected in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need to address this concerning trend. She further mentioned that the ongoing project, spanning 12 months with the potential for extension, is currently being implemented in four secondary schools located within the communities of Ojo Local Government.

The primary objective of the project was to educate and empower adolescent girls, enabling them to advocate against child marriage within their respective communities. By providing girls with information and skills, the intention was to bring about a shift in attitudes and behaviors, ultimately leading to the eradication of child marriage in the near future.

She stated that the intention is to expand the project to additional communities and local governments within Lagos State that experience a high incidence of child marriage, but this would depend on the availability of funding.