The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) partners with AFJN-Nigeria on many of these initiatives through the generosity and prayer of our members, donors, funders, and supporters. We thank you making possible these stories to share.
By: Sr. Teresa Anyabuike, SNDdeN
In September 2025 the Africa Faith and Justice Network, Nigeria (AFJN-N) held an “Ending Domestic Servitude and Early Child Marriage” policy briefing at Jubilee Hall, Holy Ghost Cathedral, in Enugu State, Nigeria. The event drew stakeholders from different organizations including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), traditional rulers, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, civil society groups, church leaders and the media.
In Enugu many children experience maltreatment from their master/madam while working as house help. Those who spoke shared traumatic incidents that children experienced after they were taken by either relatives or significant others to receive ‘a better life’. The journey, that was supposed to be a bright hope for the future and help them become better people, was full of nightmares and horror. Some children died, some were left with heath challenges including vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), while others were sold into slavery and sexually exploited. During the briefing, there were resounding calls from different quarters to end domestic servitude and early childhood marriage.
AFJN developed a working Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in conjunction with key stakeholders to put an end to these practices that eat into the fabric of our society. All present pledged and adopted the MOU as a working document in Enugu State.
With this awareness campaign there is already movement within the community as is seen in the Enugu Daily November 28, 2025 article “Enugu govt nullifies underage marriage” after it was brought to the government’s attention that a 33-year-old man was married to a minor. The article highlights the need for more eduacation on the laws and health risks to these practices as the families claim to have no knowledge that the marriage was against the law.
The work of AFJN with others is making a difference one community at a time.
Sr. Teresa Anyabuike SNDdeN is assisting Sr. Bernadette Eyewan Okure, SHCJ (AFJN-N Women Empowerment Project National Coordinator).
