Why Ending Child Marriage is Key to Advancing Africa’s Economic Development By Zuzana Schwidrowski and Omolola Mary Lipede Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service.

https://www.ipsnews.net/2026/02/why-ending-child-marriage-is-key-to-advancing-africas-economic-development/ ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Feb 19 2026 (IPS) - Africa is home to approximately 160 million adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 (according to 2022 data by the United Nations Population Division). They embody the energy, creativity, and potential of the continent. It is undeniable that The Africa We Want, as envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063, will not be realized without the full participation of this group which represents a key component of the continent’s current and future workforce. Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service.