The Paediatric Association of Nigeria has urged the lawmakers not to tamper with the constitutional provision, which puts the age of consent at 18.
In a release jointly signed by the association’s national President, Prof. Adebiyi Olowu; and the national Secretary, Dr. Jerome Elusiyan, PAN noted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and several other international conventions, to which Nigeria is a signatory affirmed 18 years as the age of maturity.
“It is no surprise that the age of 18 years is also the one that adulthood begins and the age at which an individual is allowed to vote and permitted to drive and own bank account, among others” PAN said.
The association noted that the medical consequences of girl-child marriage, which include Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, low birth weight, and birth asphyxia, among others, should serve as strong deterrent to anyone who may want to approve of child marriage.
In a release jointly signed by the association’s national President, Prof. Adebiyi Olowu; and the national Secretary, Dr. Jerome Elusiyan, PAN noted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and several other international conventions, to which Nigeria is a signatory affirmed 18 years as the age of maturity.
“It is no surprise that the age of 18 years is also the one that adulthood begins and the age at which an individual is allowed to vote and permitted to drive and own bank account, among others” PAN said.
The association noted that the medical consequences of girl-child marriage, which include Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, low birth weight, and birth asphyxia, among others, should serve as strong deterrent to anyone who may want to approve of child marriage.
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