By Archibong Jeremiah
The money marriage tradition in the Northern part of Cross River State, Nigeria has been given a blow below the belt. The spotlight initiative of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) which is implanted by African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) won the battle against the age long practice.
The Executive Director of Centre LSD, Mr. Monday Osasah made the disclosure today (Saturday) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital whilst a one day capacity building for selected media houses on “Ethical and Gender Sensitive Reporting (Understanding Basic Concepts and Terminologies).”
His words, “We have recorded success in Obanliku, we got a call recently that the Community resolved to put an end to money marriage practice. Over 800 indigenes met and resolved to end the practice. They’re working on the official resolution and we will get it soon. We’ll do a world press conference to celebrate it.”
The money marriage tradition often referred to as money women is an age long practice in Becheve Community, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State where young girls in most cases given out for marriage for economic reasons.
The practice which is akin to modern slavery sees the senior males in families sell out or give out a daughter or sister to any man from that Community for cash or items such as pigs, goats, poultry birds and several others.
At the end of the training, the team of media outfits that will work closely with Centre LSD on the spotlight initiative launched #CRSAgainstSGBV as the official #tag to track activities from the State.
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