Child marriage, defined as a formal or informal union involving at least one partner under the age of 18, remains a significant public health and human rights concern globally. The practice disproportionately affects girls, truncating their childhood, limiting educational and social opportunities, and exposing them to adverse health outcomes, including early pregnancies, obstetric complications, and psychological stress. Globally, over 650 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for a substantial proportion. In Nigeria, child marriage is particularly prevalent in regions where socio-cultural, religious, and economic factors perpetuate the practice. In Plateau State, located in Nigeria’s north-central geopolitical zone, child marriage continues despite national and international interventions aimed at its eradication. Communities in the state often perceive early marriage as normative, with girls as young as 12–13 years being married off, frequently without their consent. Key drivers include poverty, low parental education, patriarchal norms, and beliefs regarding protection from premarital sexual activity or economic burden. These factors are compounded by legal inconsistencies: while the federal Child Rights Act (CRA) of 2003 establishes 18 as the minimum marriage age, only 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states have domesticated the law, leaving areas such as Plateau State vulnerable to customary and religious practices that override statutory protections. This study explores the impact of early marriage on schoolgirls’ empowerment in Plateau State, highlighting how the practice limits educational attainment, restricts autonomy, and undermines social and economic opportunities. Understanding the socio-cultural and legal dynamics that sustain child marriage is essential for designing effective interventions that promote girls’ rights, enhance access to education, and empower them to reach their full potential. The findings underscore the need for strengthened advocacy, community engagement, and legal harmonization to protect girls from the adverse consequences of early marriage and support their development as empowered individuals.