Forced Nigerian Marriages Of Orphans - Why Are They Happening?

Almost 100 orphans are set to be married off in a forced arranged marriage ceremony in Nigeria. The event was organised and supported by the speaker of the Nigerian Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji. He had funded the ceremony publicly until the ceremony started to receive star criticism. The ceremony is now under consideration after the minister of women's affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye, threatened to sue Sarin-Daji. She voiced the idea that young girls should be in school or receive vocational training, raising the concern that some of the girls are minors. 

"This is totally unacceptable by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and by the government of Nigeria," she remarked to the press. 

How Did The Girls Become Orphaned?

The 100 young Nigerian girls were orphaned after their families were killed by several kidnapping groups in and out of Nigeria. Despite the threat of court action from Kennedy-Ohnenye, Sarin-Daji has stood by his opinion that this is the best course of action for the girls. The ceremony has the funding and support of local religious and community leaders. However, the speaker did withdraw his support of the forced marriage, instead stating that if the surviving family members of the girls wish to go through with the marriage, they would be free to do so. "The support I intend to give for the marriage of those orphans, I'm withdrawing it. The parents can have the money if they wish, let them go ahead and marry them off." 

Amidst the sharp condemnation that the event received, Jonathan Vatsa, the former commission for information and culture in Nigeria, maintained that the wedding would be conducted. He believes that the threat of court action would not sway the decision of the family members to give the girls away for marriage. He has said that criminal activity across the country has produced close to 5000 orphans and widows, all of whom must be rehabilitated through marriage. Vatsa has requested the speaker Sar-Daji not to withdraw support under the threat of the minister but to go through with his promise, stating that the ceremony not happening would "disappoint people". 

Initially, the weddings were due to happen on the 24th of May, but under the light of current circumstances, they might be cancelled or postponed.