Emir of Kano Sanusi II Wants Marriage Age Pegged In Nigeria

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II is totally against child marriage. He voiced his opposition on Tuesday, saying it’s time to peg marriage age in Nigeria.

Sanusi, who was addressing a conference of Northern Muslims Religious Leaders Forum on Primary Health care in Kano, explained that the reproductive health challenges associated with such practice is enough to discourage the tradition.

“I believe the time is ripe to take a stand on this age long practice of early marriage, and coincidentally we subscribed to Malikiyya school of thought like Morocco, Malaysia and Egypt who had since pegged marriage age to 17, 19 and 18 respectively,” the Emir said.

Sanusi II also frowned at cultural practices that encourage polygamy, noting that “most of those who engage in this practice do not have the necessary economic power to support himself”.

“In the past, cities like Kano, Katsina, Aghadez, and Timbuktu hold economic power of the Sahel region, and this economic prospect had since shifted to coastal cities around the globe”.

Also commenting on the issue of wife battery, the emir said that Islam abhors assault on women. He enjoined those involved in the act to desist from such practice.

“I don’t expect my in-law to lay his hand on my daughter, but I have since urged her to retaliate any form of assault from her husband,” he said.