Borno women who married young seek better access to education
Young women in Tashan Kangele, Maiduguri, who married as teenagers, are calling on the government to improve access to Western education. Many of these women were unaware of existing adult learning centres and face challenges like distance and lack of information. Fatima Umar, Maryam Abba, and Aisha Usman shared their stories, expressing a strong desire to return to school for a better future. The Participatory Communication for Gender Development Initiative is supporting these women in voicing their needs.
What we know
- Many women in the community married between ages 13 and 16 and now want to continue their education.
- Fatima Umar, 22, divorced after insisting on going to school like her co-wife, and hopes to finish her education before turning 30.
- Maryam Abba, 18, married at 14 and has two children, has never attended school and wishes to start if given the opportunity.
- Aisha Usman was married at 13 after her mother’s death and faces financial barriers to returning to school.
- The Programme Director of PAGED Initiative, Umi Bukar, warned that neglecting women’s education could worsen insecurity and limit opportunities for future generations.
