Comparative Relationships Between Early Marriage, Family Status and Insecurity on Girl-Child Education among Government Secondary Schools in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Authors

  • OJELEYE, Chioma Ifeoma Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026378

Abstract

The study examines the influence of early marriage, family status and insecurity on girl-child education among government secondary school in Zamfara state. The study employed cross-sectional and survey research methods. The population of the study comprised of 2,365 students of Zamfara state-owned selected Government Secondary Schools in Gusau township. The sample size of 342 were derived using Taro Yamane formula for finite population. Structural equation model was utilised to test the hypothesised relationships. The study found that early marriage and insecurity have negative and significant effect on girl-child education among government secondary school in Zamfara state. While, family status has positive and significant effect on girl-child education among government secondary school in Zamfara state. The study recommends that the government enforce laws against early marriage to keep girls in school. This should be supported by awareness campaigns that educate communities on the benefits of girl-child education and the legal consequences of early marriages. Partnering with local NGOs and religious leaders could enhance the effectiveness of these campaigns, ensuring the message is culturally sensitive and widely accepted.

References

Abdulkadir, M. S., Funtuwa, A. I., & Ibrahim, A. T. (2021). Effect of early marriage on the academic performance of the Girl-Child in Katsina State: Challenges and prospects. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 5(9), 328–343.

Adamu, A., Umar, K. Y., & Abdulkadir, K. (2017). Analysis on prevalence and effect of early marriage on girl-child education: A case study of Miri Village of Bauchi State. Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies, 4(3), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJSSES.2017.7378

Ali, S. M., Musa, S., Zakar, Y., & Bello, N. (2021). Parents’ socioeconomic status and academic performance of students of government day junior secondary school Gashaka, Yobe State, Nigeria. Hikmah Journal of Arts & Social Sciences Education, 3(2), 16–22.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Harvard University Press.

Chukwuemeke, B., Ugwu, H. N., & Radietu, M. A. (2018). Early child marriage in Nigeria causes, effects and remedies. Social Sciences Research, 4(1), 49–66.

Fareo, D. O., & Kutunda, J. (2018). Effects of early marriage on girl-child education in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State Nigeria. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 6(3), 93–100.

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: algebra and statistics. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(3), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.2307/3150980

Gimba, S. N., Muhammad, H. S., Alabe, H. A., & Paga, M. M. (2019). Effect of early marriage and its implication on girl-child education in bade emirate. Yobe state, Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Research and Studies, 1(2), 3–5.

Girls Not Brides. (2022). Girls’ education and child marriage. London. Retrieved from https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/documents/1938/Girls_Not_Brides_Impact_Report_2022.pdf

Gloria, S. P., & Rwang, P. S. (2022). Insecurity and girl-child education in north-east Nigeria: a case of Chibok and Dapchi Quagmire. Wukari International Studies Journal, 6(2), 24–34.

Gobena, G. A. (2018). Family socio-economic status effect on students’ academic achievement at college of education and behavioral sciences, Haramaya University, Eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 7(3), 207–222.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publisher. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-10-2013-0128

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM ) Using R. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7

Henriett, M. C., & Odozi, I. C. (2014). Influence of parental socio-economic status on academic achievement of students in selected schools in Nigeria: A case study of Enugu State . Journal of Education and Practice, 5(2), 105–110.

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43, 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Hulland, J. (1999). Use of partial least squares (PLS) in strategic management research: a review of four recent studies. Strategic Management Journal, 20, 195–204. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199902)20:2<195::AID-SMJ13>3.0.CO;2-7

Ibrahim, A. (2020). Gender, education and socioeconomic development: A case study of Nigerian women. Journal of Gender Studies, 29(1), 64-77.

Ibarahim, B., Garba, Y., & Malam, S. S. (2023). The effects of banditry activities on girl-child education in Sokoto south senatorial zone, Sokoto state Nigeria. The Beam: Journal of Arts & Science, 15(1), 1–10.

Israel, G. D. (2013). Determining sample size. Journal of Business Research, 1, 1–5. Retrieved from https://www.psycholosphere.com/Determining sample size by Glen Israel.pdf

Muhammad, S., Danjuma, M., Jega, S. U., & Samaila, D. (2021). Socioeconomic factors and girl-child education (A case study of some selected secondary schools in Jega). International Journal of Arts and Social Science, 4(4), 56–63.

Nwakwesiri, F. C., & Onebunne, J. I. (2017). Does socio-economic status of parents influence girl-child education in Anambra west local government area of Anambra state. Africal Psychology, 7(1), 291–308.

Ojeleye, C. I., Kaura, L. B., Gusau, B. M., & Abdullahi, M. (2022). Insecurity as predictor of students’ learning in Zamfara State. Sokoto Educatuional Review, 21(1), 66–78.

Ojeleye, Y. C., Abu-Abdissamad, A. M., Umar, S., & Usman, A. (2022). Academic resilience and self- efficacy as predictors of students’ academic performance in Nigeria. Sokoto Journal of Management Studies, 32(3), 97–112.

Ojeleye, Y. C., Kareem, R. F., Chimezie, C., & Abdullahi, M. (2022). Perceived organisational justice and employee commitment: The role of organisational trust among academic staff in Nigeria. Gusau Journal of Business Administration, 1(2), 1–15.

Ojeleye, Y. C., Ojeleye, C. I., Karem, R. F., & Abdullahi, A. (2023). Proactive personality and entrepreneurial intentions among Nigerian students: Moderating role of perceived institutional support. Oeconomica Jadertina, 13(1), 19–34. https://doi.org/10.15291/oec.4139

Okesina, F. A. (2018). Influence of family background on academic performance of senior secondary school students as expressed by teachers in Ilorin metropolis. KIU Journal of Humanities, 3(2), 163–172.

Pondent, C. S. (2017). The advantages of proportional allocation sampling techniques in business research. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://bizfluent.com/info-10014862-advantages-proportional-allocation.html

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research Method for Business: A Skill Building Approach (7th ed.). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Tanko, B. A., & Linus, T. (2023). Impact of insecurity on the education of the girl-child: The role of basic educators in Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Psychology & Social Development, 11(4), 97–102.

Ubong, B. (2016). Insecurity and girl-child education in Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 2(11), 211–220. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.221379 European

Umaru, A., Pate, H. A., & Haruna, A. D. (2015). The impact of insecurity and poverty on sustainable economic development in Nigeria. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education, 2(2), 32–48.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2023). Is an End to Child Marriage within Reach? In Is an End to within Reach? Child marriage Latest trends and future prospects 2023 update. Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/Resources/Is-an-End-To-Child-Marriage-Within-Reach/

UNESCO. (2016). Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2016: Gender Review – Creating Sustainable Futures for All. UNESCO Publishing.

Usman, M., & Musa, A. A. (2021). The consequences of early marriage on girl-child education in Geidam, Yobe state Nigeria. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 9(6), 19–24.

Voice of America. (2021). Nigerian state closes schools after 140 students kidnapped. Retrieved July 23, 2021, from https://www.voanews.com/africa/nigerian-state-closes-schools-after-140-students-kidnapped

Wang, X., & Cheng, Z. (2020). Cross-sectional studies. CHEST, 158(1), S65–S71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.012

Williams, A., & Istifanus, J. (2017). Boko haram insurgency: a threat to the girl-child’s access to education in the northeast of Nigeria. European Journal of Education Studies, 3(2), 121–132. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1116989

World Bank. (2018). World Development Report 2018: Learning to Realize Education’s Promise. World Bank Publications.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-19

How to Cite

Comparative Relationships Between Early Marriage, Family Status and Insecurity on Girl-Child Education among Government Secondary Schools in Zamfara State, Nigeria. (2026). Federal University Gusau Faculty of Education Journal, 6(3), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.64348/zije.2026378