By Folayimika Akanbi
A nongovernmental organization, Advocates for Orphaned Children (AOC) has said boys and men have a critical role to play in the eradication of child marriage among young girls.
It explained that the burden of safety and protection cannot rest solely on young girls in curbing the menace, which is prevalent in parts of the country.
Founder of Advocates for Orphaned Children, Dr Babalola Tobi, made the call in Ilorin at the event the group organized in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.
This medium reports that the group carried out a sensitization campaign across key institutions in Ilorin, seeking an end to child marriage and urging broader community support for the protection and development of young girls.
Addressing the young male students during the outreach, Babalola challenged them to actively reject exploitation and protect their female peers.
“The responsibility for ending child marriage must never be placed solely on the girl child. You are an important champion for this future we want. Stand side-by-side with your sisters, classmates, and friends. When girls win, everyone wins,” he said.
Co-leading the initiative, Akerejola Ebeanosi, Co-Founder of AOC, emphasized that ending harmful practices requires moving beyond advocacy to direct, hands-on action in local communities.
During her session with young girls across the centres visited, Ebeanosi focused on practical personal safety, self-awareness, and personal agency, urging the girls to stay vigilant, establish firm personal boundaries, and report inappropriate behaviour to trusted adults.
She said, “For me, this was more than an outreach. It was an opportunity to connect advocacy with action, to share knowledge, and to remind young people that their lives, voices, and aspirations matter.
“Ending child marriage requires more than awareness. It requires safer communities, accountable adults, empowered young people, and a society willing to challenge the conditions that put children at risk.”
The outreach team visited several orphanage facilities within Ilorin, including the City of Refuge, Agape Orphanage, and the Kwara State Children Reception Centre along Pipeline Road.
The team also conducted an interactive sensitization session with students at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS).
Beyond safety and rights protection, the sessions introduced students to pathways for long-term self-reliance.
Discussions highlighted academic excellence, leadership development, civic responsibility, and high-demand vocational and technological skills—such as graphic design, coding, and fashion design.
The International Day of the Girl Child serves as a global call to action to eliminate gender-based barriers and expand opportunities for young girls.
Through initiatives like this outreach, AOC continues to champion safer environments and equal opportunities for vulnerable children across Nigeria.
