Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for stronger collaboration with traditional institutions to protect the girl-child from systemic vulnerabilities that fuel drug abuse, exploitation and other social vices.
Marwa made the appeal on Saturday in Kaduna during the public presentation of In The Shadow of the Neem Tree, a book authored by his daughter, Barrister Mariam Marwa-Abdu, stressed that safeguarding girls is critical to securing families and the nation’s future.
According to him, protecting vulnerable members of society should not be left to government and non-governmental organisations alone but should become a collective responsibility involving traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
“As the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, I see firsthand every day how systemic vulnerabilities like poverty, abuse and lack of education drive women and youth toward drug abuse and exploitation. Advocacy like Mariam’s is the first line of defence,” Marwa said.
He added that traditional rulers, as custodians of culture, have a crucial role in changing harmful societal norms.
“We cannot leave this battle to the government or non-governmental organisations alone. We need the partnership of our revered traditional institutions, led by custodians of culture like His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, to shift the cultural paradigm. We must protect our daughters, educate them and give them the wings to fly,” he said.
Marwa commended the author for her courage, compassion and intellectual contribution, described her work as a source of pride to the family. He urged Nigerians to ensure the message contained in the book reaches every part of society.
Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Marwa said the publication marked a special family milestone, noting that all four of his eldest children have become published authors.
“I have always believed in the power of the written word to reshape society. To see all four of my eldest children, who are all coincidentally lawyers, pick up the pen to fight societal ills and document human experiences is the greatest legacy a father could ask for. We have become practically a family of authors,” he said.
He noted that In The Shadow of the Neem Tree addressed the painful reality of child marriage and its devastating consequences on girls’ education, health and future.
Describing the symbolism behind the book’s title, Marwa explained that while the neem tree is known for providing shade in many northern communities, it also represents the silent traditional settings where decisions affecting the lives of young girls are sometimes made.
“Early marriage robs a girl of her childhood, her education, her health and her potential to contribute meaningfully to society. Mariam uses her legal background and storytelling prowess to shine a harsh but necessary light on these dark corners, forcing us to confront the consequences of this practice,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, the author and founder of the Women and Children’s Rights and Empowerment Foundation (WCREF), Mrs. Mariam Marwa-Abdu, described the book as more than a work of fiction, saying it is “a literary manifesto” of her lifelong commitment to protecting women and children’s rights.
She explained that through WCREF, established in 2011, she has spent over a decade translating the advocacy reflected in the book into practical interventions aimed at empowering vulnerable women and children.
Also speaking, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, who was represented by the Barden Kerarriyan Zazzau and District Head of Basawa, Architect Haruna Abubakar Bamalli, expressed optimism that the book launch would inspire positive societal transformation.
He said the event would serve as “a springboard for individual and collective development,” while encouraging sustained advocacy against harmful practices affecting women and girls.
