King of Igbo Community in Ghana calls for urgent investment in girl child education

The King of the Igbo community in Ghana, Dr. Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu

The King of the Igbo community in Ghana, Dr. Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu, has issued a passionate call for African leaders and societies to prioritise girl child education as a powerful tool for unlocking the untapped potential of young girls and ensuring a sustainable future for the continent.

Dr. Eze Ihenetu emphasised that investing in the education of girls offers long-term benefits not only for individuals but also for communities and entire nations. He explained that education empowers girls to make informed decisions about their futures and equips them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

He further stressed the economic impact of girl child education, noting that educated girls often become valuable contributors to the workforce. This, he explained, leads to broader economic growth and sustainable development.

Dr. Eze Ihenetu also highlighted the role of educated girls as agents of change. He said that when girls receive proper education, they help break the cycle of poverty in their families and communities and contribute to the advancement of their societies.

"It is very important for every African country to adopt strategies that would help increase the awareness of promoting girl child education as a means of ensuring equal access to quality education, eliminating barriers which hinder the education of a girl child," he underscored.

The King warned that failing to prioritise girl child education would only allow harmful practices such as child marriage to persist across the continent. He advocated for stronger legal measures to combat the issue.

He noted that establishing and strictly enforcing laws against child marriage, along with ensuring that violators are penalised, would serve as a solid legal framework to help eliminate the practice across Africa.

Dr. Eze Ihenetu also spoke of the numerous health complications associated with early child marriage, particularly those related to reproductive health. He pointed out that young girls are often not physically mature enough for sexual activity, which leads to infections and long-term health problems.

"Trauma, stress, anxiety and depression are some forms of mental health concerns associated with child marriages due to its forceful nature on the girl to marry an old man who equals to his father's or grandfather's age," he bemoaned.

Addressing the issue of maternal mortality, he described it as a serious threat to girls forced into early marriage and pregnancy. He warned that many young girls are at high risk of death during childbirth or shortly after, because their bodies are not yet developed to handle pregnancy.

Dr. Eze Ihenetu concluded that these health risks are deeply tied to social, economic, and cultural issues, and urged stakeholders across Africa to view them as a wake-up call to address girl child marriage with urgency and resolve.