The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has condemned violence against women and the practice of child marriage, declaring that culture cannot be used to justify abuse and that every Nigerian is entitled to protection under the law.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday, Sanusi rejected arguments that cultural norms permit domestic violence, stressing that Nigerian law is clear on the issue.
“You cannot beat a woman because your culture says you can beat her. She’s a Nigerian citizen entitled to protection,” he said.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria argued that acts often blamed on culture are instead rooted in power imbalance, poverty, and the failure of government institutions to provide basic services and protection for vulnerable groups.
“This violence happens in all societies; it’s not about African culture,” Sanusi said.
“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.”
Addressing child marriage, particularly in rural communities, the Emir urged Nigerians to look beyond cultural explanations and confront the structural conditions that sustain the practice.
He noted that many girls complete primary education at about 11 years old but lack access to secondary schools, vocational centres, or safe social environments, leaving families with limited and often harmful options.
“Between 11 and 18, what arrangements have you made for her?” he asked. “The poor man finds that she’s 12 or 13, fears she could get pregnant, and the next young man that comes, he marries her off. Sometimes these cultures reflect poverty.”
Sanusi criticised what he described as urban perspectives that fail to account for rural realities, pointing to unsafe roads, long distances to schools, and the absence of effective local government services.
“It’s easy to blame culture. It’s easy to blame a victim. But the government has not provided the schools,” he said.
Despite acknowledging the complexity of the issues, the Emir maintained that Nigeria must draw clear moral and legal boundaries.
“As a nation, we need to have certain common agreements and values,” he said, stressing that violence against women and children is unacceptable.
“It doesn’t matter what you think your culture says. The Nigerian law does not allow you to do it.”
Sanusi concluded that many practices defended as tradition are not cultural norms but deliberate abuses of authority, describing them as a “culture of oppression” sustained by violence and exploitation.
Also Read: Airport police arrest 24-year-old over alleged N48.5m romance fraud
