The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has issued a forceful denunciation of violence against women and the practice of child marriage, insisting that no cultural tradition can override the fundamental rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.

In a televised interview, the influential traditional ruler and former Central Bank governor stressed that assaulting women under the guise of culture is both unlawful and immoral. He warned that invoking tradition to justify abuse masks deeper structural problems in society.

“You cannot beat a woman because your culture says you can beat her. She is a Nigerian citizen entitled to protection,” Sanusi said, arguing that what is often labelled as culture is, in fact, a manifestation of unequal power relations, entrenched poverty, and the failure of government institutions.

He noted that violence against women is a global problem, not an African peculiarity, and that it flourishes wherever power is unchecked and vulnerable groups lack protection. According to him, women, children, the poor, and persons with disabilities are frequently the easiest targets of this “culture of oppression.”

Turning to child marriage, Sanusi urged Nigerians to look beyond simplistic cultural explanations and confront the harsh realities facing rural families. Many girls, he observed, complete primary school around the age of 11 and then find themselves with no access to secondary education, vocational training, or safe community spaces.

“Between 11 and 18, what arrangements have you made for her?” he asked. He explained that in many poor households, parents fear for their daughters’ safety in environments where roads are dangerous, schools are distant or non-existent, and local government services are absent. In such conditions, early marriage is often seen as a form of protection, even though it exposes girls to lifelong harm.

Sanusi criticised urban elites who, he said, are quick to condemn rural practices without acknowledging the state’s failure to provide basic infrastructure and education. “It’s easy to blame culture. It’s easy to blame a victim. But the government has not provided the schools,” he said.

Despite recognising the complexity of these issues, the Emir insisted that Nigeria must establish clear moral and legal red lines. Violence against women and children, he maintained, cannot be excused under any pretext. “It doesn’t matter what you think your culture says. The Nigerian law does not allow you to do it,” he declared, calling for an end to abusive practices disguised as tradition.