Assessment of Child Marriage in Katsina State, Nigeria: Implications for the Achievement of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

ABSTRACT: Child marriage remains a major challenge in Northern Nigeria despite existing policies and international commitments aimed at protecting girls and promoting education. This study assessed child marriage in Katsina State, Nigeria, and examined how sustainable education can contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality) within the 2016–2026 period. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, covering Katsina, Daura, and Malumfashi Local Government Areas. Data were collected from 150 respondents through structured questionnaires, while 45 participants took part in three focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Kruskal–Wallis H tests, and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were examined thematically. The findings revealed that community exposure to child marriage was high at 79.5%, with higher reported rates in Daura (95.9%) and Malumfashi (93.8%) than in Katsina (49.0%). Cultural practices, lack of education, poverty, and religious beliefs were identified as major contributing factors. Policy awareness significantly reduced the likelihood of child marriage, while perceived educational quality also showed a significant effect in the economic model. The study concludes that child marriage results from the interaction of cultural, economic, educational, and institutional factors. It recommends strengthening girls’ education, improving school retention and quality, increasing policy awareness, and implementing community-based interventions to reduce child marriage and advance gender equality in Katsina State. Keywords: Child marriage; sustainable education; Katsina State; SDG 4; SDG 5; social norms; human capital; mixed methods.