From Child Bride to Classroom: Resuscitated Dreams of Young Mother.

By Aysha Mustapha Kolomi

When every child’s dream is to attain education to the tertiary level and also be among their peers to enjoy their childhood and create memories, Amina (not real name) a girl of 13 who hails from a village in Sabon Gari, Kaduna state was snatched this dream. She was forced to drop out of school by financial constraints and was soon enrolled into the journey of marriage (what is being termed as adolescent marriage), with financial hardship tightening its grip on her and the family, marriage became her only path forward.

“I had no plans of marriage at that age, all I wanted was to be among my peers and argue about school work or assignments being given to us.” … those were Amina’s words filled with regret.

“I was able to finish primary and also my junior secondary, but proceeding to the next level became a battle of its own” she added.

She was taken from a young vibrant child to an adolescent who now battles the race of house chores and settling as a wife. Months after marriage, she soon conceived and became a mother of a boy who she calls Aminu (Not real name). Life hit her hard beyond expectations living her with no other option than to adjust being a mother at the age of 14.

“They day I gave birth, I wailed not for the pain of labor I went through but seeing my future being washed down the drain right before my eyes.” A response she added with a hint of pain. Weeks turned to months and then to years, Amina now has 2 children, a boy and a girl at the age of 17, fortunately, luck smiled at her again when an NGOs intervened and enrolled her into a program purposely for Married Women, a program labelled “Second Chance at Learning”.
“Wallahi the day I was enrolled I couldn’t sleep because of excitement, I was so elated because I was given a second chance to pursue my dreams of becoming a journalist.” She narrated with glimpse of light in her eyes.

“I will try as much as possible to protect my children from following the wrong path I was forced to follow. I will ensure that they both get good education, fortunately my son is already in school presently. Alhamdulillah”
In the remote village of Hanwa, Sabon Gari Local government of Kaduna state also practice the same trend of cutting short the education of girl child, which doesn’t align mostly with financial crises but because of selfish gains or binding kinship. In the heart of Hanwa, lived a 15 year old Faiza (not real name) who resided there with her father and his two wives and siblings. Faiza was the third Child of 5 children, birthed by her mother, she was the second girl child. Her dreams of becoming a lawyer was cut short during her primary school days. Her dooms day reflected like a mirror on faithful day her father ordered her to expect one of her paternal cousin who would be her husband in the coming weeks.

“I wasn’t even given the chance to know him or understand him, instead I was forced to marry him, without any option. He is one mistake I live to regret.” Faiza’s spoke with a heavy heart.

She was only married to him for 5 months, later got divorced and had to return home with a 4 month old pregnancy.

The dreams and hope of pursuing her career and dreams came crashing like a plane without its pilot. After months of pain and regret, she gave birth to a girl (Hadiza), it was supposed to be a day filled with happiness but deep down her the light she was hoping for at the end of the tunnel was dimmed. Embracing her fate was the only option she had.

On the very day, the girl clocked 6 months, Faiza’s mother advised for her to further her education, without her father opposing, she got enrolled and picked up the pieces she left. She battled between motherhood and being a student, most at times she backed her daughter to attend classes and she has to leave home as early as possible.
She got called in by the school authority to either come with a nanny or look for where to drop the child before coming to school, at that very tender age, what could possibly come up with as a solution, hence she resorted to differing the studies till her daughter comes of age.

“I will be forever grateful for my mother, she willing asked me to be dropping Hadiza with her while I face my studies. She even made remarks like why was she there if she can’t tend to my needs. With the words of affirmation that I got from my mother, it motivated me the more to study hard and become something in future, for me to be able to also take care of her needs and that of my daughter”

one can depict the excitement in Faizas tone after hearing what she narrated.
Before she proceeded to the secondary stage, her father passed on and that became a trying time for both her mother, her and her siblings. Soon after life went back to how it was, things were moving smoothly and so was her education.

“Hadiza is now 4 years old and my education is progressing, I am currently in JSS1. After marriage I never thought a day like this would come but Alhamdulillah for I am living my dreams now.”
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