One in five girls worldwide is still married before the age of 18, according to UNICEF, even as the agency reports that 68 million child marriages have been averted over the past 25 years.
In a post obtained from UNICEF’s website on Monday, the agency attributed the progress to investments in girls’ education, legal reform and social protection. The figures were released in a message marking the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2026, under the theme “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights!”
“We have the solutions: keeping girls in school; expanding access to health, protection and social services; working with families and communities to challenge harmful norms; investing in girls’ rights and supporting their leadership,” UNICEF said.
“Now we must go further and faster. It is in our power to ensure that every girl, everywhere, can realize her rights and fulfil her potential.
“For when girls are safe, educated and empowered, they don’t just transform their own lives, they help build healthier families, stronger communities and more peaceful, prosperous societies.”
According to UNICEF, “Approximately 650 million women and girls alive today were married in childhood. More than 12 million girls, roughly one every three seconds, are still married before reaching adulthood each year, with the highest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa at 31 per cent.”
Nearly one in four ever-married or partnered girls aged 15 to 19 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Crises, conflict and displacement continue to increase the risks of child marriage, sexual violence and maternal mortality.
Girls aged 15 to 19 are twice as likely as boys not to be in education, employment or training. In fragile, conflict and violence-affected contexts, girls are nearly 90 per cent more likely to be out of secondary school than those in stable settings, raising their risk of child marriage.
“We know what works – and investing in girls is one of the most effective ways to accelerate progress,” UNICEF stated.
“Every girl deserves a childhood. Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, to grow, to make her own choices and to define her own future. Yet millions of girls are still denied that freedom.
“Child marriage remains one of the most widespread violations of girls’ rights, denying millions of girls the chance to stay in school, protect their health, live free from violence, and fulfil their potential.
“It can have severe and lasting consequences for girls’ physical and mental health, increasing risks of social isolation, anxiety, and emotional distress at a time when self-harm remains one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls aged 15-19 globally.”
The PUNCH
Four Nigerians named on Forbes Africa’s 2026 icons list
Category: Nationwide, Africa
Source: DP
Excerpt: Four Nigerians, Aliko Dangote, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu and Burna Boy, have been named among 15 personalities featured on Forbes Africa’s inaugural Icons list for 2026.
Image idea: Forbes Africa’s inaugural Icons list for 2026
Four Nigerians, Aliko Dangote, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mo Abudu and Burna Boy, have been named among 15 personalities featured on Forbes Africa’s inaugural Icons list for 2026.
On Saturday, it was reported that the list, published in the magazine’s October-November anniversary edition, recognises individuals whose ideas, innovations and voices have influenced Africa’s past, present and future.
The selection marks the 15th anniversary of Forbes Africa, which said it chose personalities whose work had made a lasting impact beyond their industries and national borders.
The four Nigerians represent business, international economic leadership, media and music.
Dangote, president of Dangote Group, is recognised for his role in African industry and private enterprise.
Dangote
Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization and a former Nigerian finance minister, represents Africa’s presence in international economic leadership.
Iweala
Abudu, founder and chief executive of EbonyLife Group, is recognised for her contribution to African media and entertainment, while Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, represents the international reach of Nigerian music.
Mo Abudu
The other personalities on the list are South African businessman Adrian Gore, CAF president and businessman Patrice Motsepe, Zimbabwean entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Also featured are Nobel Prize-winning novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie, former Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba, South African businessman Johann Rupert, Kenyan-Mexican actor Lupita Nyong’o, South African comedian Trevor Noah and Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo.
The 15 personalities represent sectors including business, public service, literature, sport, music and entertainment.
According to Forbes Africa’s methodology, the selection was based on factors including global recognition, legacy, measurable economic, social or cultural influence, and contributions to Africa’s growth narrative over the years.
The magazine said its editorial team consulted established figures, experts and professionals in the respective industries to gather insights on the honourees’ impact and legacy.
The list is presented in no particular order, the release noted.
Full list of Forbes Africa Icons 2026
– Mo Abudu — Nigerian-British media entrepreneur and founder-chief executive of EbonyLife Group.
– Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — Nigerian economist and director-general of the World Trade Organization.
– Adrian Gore — South African businessman and founder-chief executive of Discovery Group.
Gore
– Patrice Motsepe — South African businessman and president of the Confederation of African Football.
Motsepe
– Strive Masiyiwa — Zimbabwean entrepreneur and founder and executive chairman of Econet Global and Cassava Technologies.
Masiwiya
– Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — Former president of Liberia.
Sirleaf
– Aliko Dangote — Nigerian industrialist and president of Dangote Group.
– Burna Boy — Nigerian singer and songwriter.
Burna Boy
– Abdulrazak Gurnah — Zanzibar-born novelist and Nobel laureate in Literature.
Gurnah
– Haile Gebrselassie — Ethiopian athletics legend and businessman.
Gebrselassie
– Didier Drogba — Former Ivorian footballer.
Drogba
– Johann Rupert — South African businessman and chairman of Compagnie Financière Richemont.
Rupert
– Lupita Nyong’o — Kenyan-Mexican actor.
Nyong’o
– Trevor Noah — South African comedian, writer, producer and former host of The Daily Show.
Noah
– Angélique Kidjo — Beninese musician and actor.
Kidjo
Forbes Africa said the list celebrates individuals whose contributions have helped shape the continent’s development and standing on the global stage.
The PUNCH