EMIR OF KANO CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, REJECTS CULTURAL JUSTIFICATIONS
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Wednesday condemned violence against women and child marriage, emphasizing that cultural norms cannot justify abuse and that every Nigerian is entitled to legal protection.
In an interview with the media , Sanusi stated, “You cannot beat a woman because your culture says you can beat her. She’s a Nigerian citizen entitled to protection.”
The former Central Bank governor argued that many abuses often attributed to culture are in fact rooted in unequal power dynamics, poverty, and government failure to provide basic services. “This violence happens in all societies; it’s not about African culture,” he explained.
He added, “When men have power and women are not protected, men will take advantage of that power and oppress them. Women, children, the poor, and persons with disabilities are all victims.”
Sanusi also addressed child marriage, particularly in rural communities, urging Nigerians to consider its structural causes. He highlighted that many girls finish primary school around age 11 with no access to secondary schools, vocational training, or safe environments, leaving families with limited options.
“Between 11 and 18, what arrangements have you made for her?” he asked. “The poor man basically finds that she’s 12 or 13; he’s afraid she can get pregnant, and the next young man marries her off. Sometimes these cultural practices are really a reflection of poverty.”
The Emir criticised urban perspectives that overlook rural realities, noting that unsafe roads, distant schools, and limited local government services exacerbate the problem. “It’s easy to blame culture. It’s easy to blame a victim. But the government has not provided the schools,” he said.
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Sanusi insisted that Nigeria must establish clear moral and legal boundaries. “As a nation, we need to have certain common agreements and values,” he said. “Violence against women and children is simply unacceptable. It doesn’t matter what you think your culture says. Nigerian law does not allow it.”
He concluded by stating that many acts blamed on tradition are not genuinely cultural but are deliberate abuses of authority—a “culture of oppression” sustained by violence and exploitation. He stressed that such practices must end if Nigeria is to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
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