A Qualitative Assessment of the Effects of Child Marriage on Female Education and Entrepreneurship in Northeastern Nigeria

Marriage at its right time and with the right person is one of the best things that can happen to a man. No religion, race or colour is against this globally. Unfortunately, as glamorous such a day of espousal should have been, child marriage has made it sour for child brides as most of them are forced into it in their mid-teens; thereby aborting beautiful and achievable life goals and future ambitions. This paper examines the factors inducing child marriage in Northeastern Nigeria, the effects and how these affect women’s educational attainment and entrepreneurial skills. Secondary data from Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2008) and other published data were used. Results show that avoidable poverty-a cause and an effect, limited educational attainment and powerlessness of women are the three main effects of child marriage in Northeastern Nigeria which seriously affect women entrepreneurial skills and all-round development in that region. We conclude therefore that more purposeful preventive interventions are seriously and urgently needed. In achieving this, we recommend compulsory education for all girl child of northern origin, economic empowerment for teenage girls and child brides and promote community leaders participation in the advocac