‘Leave our small girls alone’– AfDB Boss, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina’s Wise Counsel To Men Is Definitely Spot-on!
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of African Development Bank (AfDB) has voiced his annoyance at the way child marriage is on the increase.
Lending his voice to end child marriage in Africa, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development appealed to men who marry underage girls to marry women whose ages complement theirs.
According to Dr. Adesina, child marriage was one of the serious gender-based violence being meted out to girls in many African countries. Dr Adesina disclosed this while speaking at a meeting of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in New York. He appeals to men:
“Marry your own age mates and leave our girls alone.”
Dr. Adesina further disclosed that the situation has led to a vicious cycle of poverty and dependence for millions of women and girls on the African continent.
He went on to explain that education was the antidote to child marriage and that girls should be allowed to go to school and complete their education instead of getting married.
Meanwhile, he commended African first ladies for ensuring that the value chain of girls and women empowerment came into fruition.
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He was, however, of the view that this value chain was being distracted by men through early marriage, gender-based violence and the lack of economic empowerment for women.