It should also be noted that the nigerian constitution does not establish a minimum age of marriage. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. Pradesh found that nearly 14 per cent of girls were married. Controversy in nigeria over minimum age of marriage. Pdf changing dynamics of early marriage in rural areas. In nigeria, child marriage is endemic in the north, especially in the northeast geopolitical zones with over 45 per cent of teenage marriages and the highest level of female illiteracy in the country. House of representatives human rights commissions human rights commission. Mauritania and nigeria, more than half of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 who. Child marriage briefing nigeria population council.
The the causes, consequences and solutions to causes, consequences and solutions tocauses, consequences and solutions to forced forced forced child marriage child marriage child marriage in the developing worldin the developing world testimony submitted to u. It attempts to do this by providing a comprehensive overview of the religiolegal and social character of marriage in nigeria. According to le fever, quiroga and murphy 2004 noted that 2050 percent of women in developing countries are marred by the age of 18, with the highest percentages in sub. I am told that in fact that will be effective by nigerian law as at present understood to dissolve the nigerian marriage. This article on types of marriages and wedding ceremonies in nigeria will answer some questions that arise when planning a wedding in nigeria as regard what type of ceremonies to have, their implications and whats necessary and whats optional. This work not only examines the concept of marriage, but takes a step forward in identifying the problems that affect customary marriage in nigeria. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls. The marriage, however, would be valid if the person concerned, despite the fear, decided in fact to accept the marriage and so gives true personal marital consent. Despite the fact that they are legally prohibited, child marriages are prevalent in the. Marriage laws in nigeria, types, beliefs and practices traditions are accepted methods of doing things in a certain place by a certain group of people.
Issues, problems and challenges, a paper presented at a one day seminar organised by national open university of nigeria, lagos on the. In 2017 in nigeria, 43% of girls are married off before the age of 18. Progress is most dramatic when it comes to the marriage of girls under 15 years of age. The paper underscores that marriage as a legal contract is interwoven with complexities in nigeria due to its tripartite legal system. Chidl marriage in ngi er context child marriage refers to a formal or informal union in which at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age. Traditional marriage in edo state, the list and the requirements. The purpose of this study is to identify interpret and understand the effect of early marriage on the academic performance of the girlchild with a view to recommending appropriate measure to be taken in order to enhance their welfare in terms of education and thus empower them to become relevant and potential citizens of the contemporary nigeria. Data on table 2 indicate that young women in the core north the north east and the north west marry for the first time about four years earlier than their southern. Marriage is a union of a man and a woman to become husband and wife. In 2015, the heads of state and governments of the au. The experience of married adolescent girls in northern nigeria. Pdf from immemorial, marriage has been regarded as the union of a man and a. Child marriage is a marriage or similar union, formal or informal, between an adult and a child. Globally, 1 in 4 young women alive today were married in childhood versus 1 in 3 in the early 1980s.
The tradition of early marriage persists in northern nigeria as confirmed by the latest data from ndhs 2008. Marriage districts the president shall, by order published in the federal gazette, divide nigeria into districts. The paper therefore explores intricate aspects of marriages in nigeria. First of all, if you ask a question if it is legal to force children into marriage, it is actually not legal according to the childs rights act of 2003, where it is pointed out that the age of consent for a child is 18 years old. Students news agency, nearly 6,000 children are married each year in iran. Introduction marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women. The marriage of customary law throughout the study is seen from the point of view of the yoruba, marrying igbo, efik or hausa, etc. Although the details of such requirements vary from one locality to another, the broad principles are sometimes similar. Nigeria, particularly northern nigeria, has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. In many parts of the world parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially, while also. While more women are now marrying at late ages, in many regions, early marriage remains the norms.
In parts of ethiopia and nigeria many girls are married before the age of 15, some as. The pastoral care of marriage and family life in nigeria. Legal issues, complications, implications, prospects and solutions. For example, although all but 4 of 170 countries and territories with available data specify 18 as a legal minimum age of marriage for girls, nearly two thirds of countries allow girls to marry before age 18. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003.
Nigeria, the average age of marriage for girls is just over 11. In this region, girls enter marriage and begin their sexual experience when they are young, sometimes as young as 10 years old adebusoye, 2006. Secondly, it asserts that early marriage is a violation of girls human rights as it. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. The importance, how to, effect causes relationship, comparison, history, role, solutions are discussed.
It reasoned that customary marriage in nigeria cannot be dissolved by mere. Child marriage is child abuse as it has severe and negative psychosocial effects on their victims. It is in every area of life be it marriage, burial child naming ceremony etc. Problems and prospects introduction definitions of marriage have become important as the new invidious call the same sex marriage that emanated from the so called. There are essential and formal requirements for the celebration of valid customary law marriages. The impact of nigerias same sex marriage prohibition. Broadly speaking there are 2 types of marriage in nigeria, there is marriage under the act and traditionalcustomary marriage traditionalcustomary marriage is a wedding ceremony that has been conducted in accordance with the customs of the bride and grooms families. The child rights act, which was passed in 2003, sets the age of marriage at 18 yearsold. Women and girls in nigeria 1999 revealed that the aggregate mean age at marriage for female children is 16. Early child marriage in nigeria child marriage customs, a situation whereby children are given into marriage well before they attain puberty occur all over the world particularly in africa, asia, and south america. The first ordinance dealing with marriage was enacted in nigeria in 18633. Types of marriage in nigeria, their process and implications. Marriage in africa, hosted by the au and the government of the republic of zambia.
Median age at first marriage or union among women aged 20 to 24 years, in selected countries the practice of child marriage is slowly declining. Some of the causes of early marriage in nigeria include conflict, poverty, religion, and tradition. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage. The same sex marriage prohibition act simply defines a valid marriage in nigeria to be a legal union between persons of the opposite sex in accordance with the marriage act, islamic law, or. Changing dynamics of early marriage in rural areas of northern nigeria. Sub saharan africa has one of the fastest annual population growth rate merrick 202. This harmful practice affects niger more than anywhere in the world. As it is in edo state of nigeria, traditional marriage is another important occasion in the area that people all over the world are interested in and as such, it is very important to have edo state list and requirements put down for the interested young men who are looking towards having edo beautiful ladies as wives. Afro asian journal of social sciences volume 1, no. This site is like a library, use search box in the. Bola lukman solanke has a phd in demography and social.
However, federal law may be implemented differently at the state level, and to date, only a few of. Traditional marriage in edo state, the list and requirements. The customary and statutory law of marriage in nigeria. This is an indicator of the prevalence of early marriage in nigeria shehu, 2002. The underlying fact remains that child marriage must be completely abolished in nigeria, it is one of the greatest social injustices of our time. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding. Two types of consent are involved hereconsent of the parties and parental consent. The principal requirements of valid islamic law marriage are. However, only 23 of nigeria s 36 states have adopted this act. Insights into early marriage and girls education in. It has the fastest rate of urbanization presently taking place in the world. Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. Marriages are one of the symbolic areas that showcase peoples traditions and ways. It is highly rumored in nigeria that the reason why there are more mature bachelors in igboland than in any other tribe in nigeria is the alarming high bride price which runs into several thousands of naira.
The practice has been linked to a number of health risks, higher fertility, and lower education attainment, among others. Contemporary nigerian marriage ceremonies, the subject of this paper, reflect a. Information on arrangedforced marriages of young girls including. Marriage to take place within three months after date of notice. The transformation of societies in the subcontinent from rural to urban settings has immensely contributed in triggering changes in. Get free research paper on effect of early marriage on female academic performance in nigeria our project topics and materials are suitable for students in nigeria with case studies in pdf, doc. How traditional marriage ceremonies is done in southeastern nigeria.
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