FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Obudu Cattle Ranch, Cross River State.

March 11, 2026

Six Years After “Money Woman” Abolition, Centre LSD Moves to Free Remaining Child Marriage Survivors in Cross River

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD) has launched a new phase of intervention aimed at securing the freedom and reintegration of girls affected by the now-abolished child marriage practice locally known as “Money Woman” in the Becheve community of Obanliku Local Government Area, Cross River State.

This latest engagement builds on Centre LSD’s landmark intervention in August 2020, which culminated in a historic declaration by the Paramount Ruler of Obanliku LGA and the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Becheve Chiefdom abolishing the age-long practice of child marriage in the community.

The decision was further strengthened by the enactment of a bye-law by the Obanliku Local Government Legislative Council, formally prohibiting the practice.

Despite the formal abolition, several girls who had already been promised, exchanged, or paid for under the traditional arrangement prior to the 2020 declaration remain affected by the practice. Centre LSD’s current intervention seeks to close this gap by facilitating their release and supporting their reintegration into society.

As part of this effort, the organisation is convening a series of dialogue and negotiation meetings from March 11–13, 2026 at Obudu Cattle Ranch, bringing together key stakeholders including the Traditional Council of Chiefs, families involved in the transactions, and other community leaders. The meetings are aimed at securing the release of girls who were pledged before the abolition of the practice.

In addition, Centre LSD will hold separate consultations with survivors to better understand their psychosocial, educational, and livelihood needs. Insights from these consultations will guide the design of tailored support programmes to help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity, independence, and opportunity.

Speaking on the intervention, Dr. Vincent Dania, Programme Coordinator at Centre LSD, described the initiative as a crucial step in completing the community’s transition away from the harmful practice. “The abolition of the ‘Money Woman’ practice in 2020 was a historic milestone for the people of Becheve. However, some girls who had already been pledged before the abolition remain affected. Our objective now is to work with traditional leadership and families to ensure that every victim of the practice is released and supported to reintegrate into society and lead meaningful lives with strengthened agency,” he said.

Historically, the “Money Woman” tradition involved the exchange of female children sometimes even before birth as repayment for debts owed by parents or relatives, or as settlement for gifts and other obligations. In many cases, the girls were forced into lifelong domestic servitude and marital arrangements without their consent.

The practice was formally abolished on August 17, 2020, following sustained advocacy and community engagement by Centre LSD under a UN Women–funded project focused on male engagement to address gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, and sexual and reproductive health rights in Cross River State. Centre LSD’s current intervention builds on this progress by focusing on the remaining survivors to ensure that no victim of the practice is left behind in the community’s transition toward protecting the rights of women and girls.

Beyond negotiating their release, the organisation plans to link survivors to psychosocial support services, education opportunities, vocational training, and economic empowerment initiatives, enabling them to rebuild their lives and become active contributors to their communities.

Centre LSD therefore calls on government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts aimed at fully emancipating survivors of the practice and helping them rebuild their lives with dignity, opportunity, and hope.

The Centre reaffirmed its commitment to working with traditional institutions, government authorities, and community leaders to permanently end harmful traditional practices and promote the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of women and girls in Nigeria.

Members of the public are encouraged to follow updates of the meeting via Centre LSD's social media platforms:

Facebook:@centrelsd

X:@centrelsd

Instagram:@centrelsd

LinkedIn:@centrelsd

Media Contact: Dr. Vincent Dania, PMP®, PMI-ACP®

Programme Coordinator African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)

Phone: +234 (0)803 421 0082

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