The United Nations Children’s fund has disclosed that Oyo State currently has the highest number of girl child marriage in south west Nigeria.

According to the latest south west multiple indicator cluster survey ( mics 6), 2021/2022, one out of every six girls in Oyo state marries between the age of fifteen and eighteen.

The UNICEF M4R specialist , Mr Oluwasola Olanipekun, while  addressing journalists drawn from the south west at a two day media dialogue organized by the National Orientation Agency, Lagos state Directorate in conjunction with UNICEF,gave an overview of the MICS 6 implication for the south west.

He pointed out that , Oyo , Ogun and Ekiti states top the chart when it comes to early child marriage  in the south west.

Also speaking, the UNICEF Communication officer,  Lagos Office, Mrs Blessing Ejiofor earlier said the objective of the workshop is to share with the media the result of the most recent survey which would assist to analyze the situation of children and women in south west Nigeria.

Some Observers attributed the trend in early child marriage to poverty, and tradition ,stressing that,it prevents girls from making their own life choices, and disrupts their education.

They pleaded with the government to enforce laws to prevent child marriage.