CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
The history of marriage dates back to
the history of mankind. Biblically, God created the first man called Adam and
he was without helper. God being omnipotent
and omniscient know his problem and hired him into a great slumber and
removed one of his ribs and created a woman called Eve (Genesis 2:21-22) from
this time, marriage was first contracted by Adam and Eve who was the first
parent on earth to highlight this, the holy bible says, so God created man in
his own image in the image of God he created him, male and female and God
blessed them and said to them “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth ad
subdue it” Gen. 1:27-28.
Throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of celebration
and a milestone in adult life. Sadly, the practice of early marriage gives no
such cause for celebration. All too often, the imposition of a marriage partner
upon a child means that a girl or boy’s childhood is cut short and their
fundamental rights are compromised (UNICEF, 2001). Young girls are robbed of their
youth and required to take on roles for which they are not psychologically or
physically prepared. Many have no choice about the timing of marriage or their
partner. Some are coerced into marriage, while others are too young to make an
informed decision. Premature marriage deprives them of the opportunity for
personal development as well as their rights to full reproductive health and
wellbeing, education, and participation in civic life.
The literature identifies many interrelated factors almost similar
worldwide with small variations between societies that interact to place a girl
child at risk of early marriage. Those factors include among others, search for
economic survival, protection of young girls, peer group and family pressure,
controlling female behavior and sexuality, wars and civil conflicts,
maximization of fertility where infant mortality is very high (The working
group 2000; UNICEF2001; Mathur et al. 2003) Early marriage contributes to a
series of negative consequences both for young girls and the society in which
they live. It is a violation of human rights in general and of girl’s rights in
particular. For both girls and boys, early marriage has profound physical,
intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts; cutting off educational and
employment opportunities and chances of personal growth. In this project more
emphasis is given to girls as this is an issue that impacts upon girls in far
larger numbers and with more intensity. Besides having a negative impact on
girls themselves, the practice of early marriage also has negative consequences
on their children, families, and society as a whole. UNICEF (2000) argues that
it is not only girls that pay for early marriage but also the society as a
whole. Population pressure, health care costs and lost opportunities of human
development are just a few of the growing burdens that society shoulders
because of teenage pregnancies. Early marriage also undermines international
efforts to fight against poverty in developing countries. Bunch (2005) makes it
clear that the widespread practice of child marriage makes it increasingly
difficult for families to escape poverty in the developing world, thereby
undermining critical international efforts to fight poverty, HIV/AIDS and other
development challenges, and making billions of dollars in development
assistance less effective.
Drawn from an extensive reading of published materials; textbooks,
journal articles and magazines, consultation of different web sites, listening
of videos related to early marriage, this project will emphasize on the
following : Firstly, it argues that “a number of factors such as poverty,
social cultural and religious norms, civil conflict, value of virginity and
fears about marital sexual activity are the major factors that contribute to
early marriage of girls in Ibesikpo and Nigeria at large”. Secondly, it asserts
that “early marriage is a violation of girl’s human rights as it deprives her
from freedom, opportunity for personal development, and other rights including
health and wellbeing, education, and participation in civic life.”Lastly, it
argues that “early marriage is a developmental challenge for the growing
burdens such as population pressure, health care costs and lost opportunities
of human development that society shoulder.”
However, the foundation of any human society is the family and for any
family to come to the existence there must be marriage institution in the world
of Heroine Boetlner (1980:322) marriage is a Holy Sacred relationship between
man and woman, designed to continue as long as they both live, beside, St. Paul
argue that for this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and to be
joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh holy bible (R.S.V)
Ephesians 5:30-31. As a matter of fact, things that normally accompany marriage
ceremony among Nigerians and the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa
Ibom State in particular are today clear manifestation of the high degree of
self respect and sense of admiration for the marriage institution.
Especially, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, parents give out
their daughters for marriage at very tender age or early age which form the
centre point of this project. The issue of early marriage of girls which is often
contributed by parents on behalf of their children when they are still two
young to appreciate what marriage is all about, have generated a lot of
problems to the people of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
This explain why Duoglas C. Kannel (1980:223) says men and women who married before the age
of 20 had the highest rate of divorce, they were over two times more likely to
divorce than men and women who married between the age of 25 and 29. With this
idea of marriage at the back of our mind, we can now define early marriage
according to Henry J. I. (1953:313) early marriage is the uniting in formal
marriage of children under 13 years of age with a much older men. Again, Cohel
R.S. et al (1980:186) argue that the teenage mothers usually for go education,
even those who return to school do not continue as far as their peers who did
not become pregnant while teenagers.
The above statement show how bitter these anthers were particularly on
girls who were being denied of their right to education regardless of their
abilities. This equally deprives them what they would have made to national
development if their potential were fully maximized. Traditionally, the people
of Nkanu East have the notion that whoever refuses to marry at his or her youth
has defined the culture and the custom of the area. This goes a long way to
explain the custom where by if one marries without off spring or fail to
married, the property of such victim is usually shared among his or her
relations and will be buried outside the compound in a place called Ogbunkwu
(evil forest) without befitting and ceremonial burial. This shows that early
marriage is generally accepted in the area because, a situation where one
marries and dies without producing children, the property of that person is
usually shared among his or her relation.
Beside, the influence of Christianity is gaining much in that aspect.
This is because the members of the congregation are always ready to bury any of
their members with or without issue. These days the non Christian through
association of age grade or peer group has a lot of influence on the old age tradition idea, hence such
members can buy piece of land and bury
such victim instead of allowing the traditionalists to bury such dead body in
the evil forest.
NOT COMPLETE. PLEASE PAY FOR THE COMPLETE VERSION
THE
COMPLETE PROJECT IS #4,000 ONLY
PAYMENT PROCEDURE;
BANK:
FIRST BANK
ACCOUNT NAME: EGBE JOHN
EDOGI
ACCOUNT NO: 3034851408
GTBANK
ACCOUNT
NAME: EGBE JOHN EDOGI
ACCOUNT
NO: 0122005571
PLEASE AFTER PAYMENT
SEND THE TELLER NUMBER AND YOUR NAME THE WAY IT APPEAR IN THE TELLER TO ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBER:
08037940241
08183133884
My marriage has been completely transformed by the A New Beginning workshop by Dr Itua love spell. I am shocked that so much can be done in love spell by Dr itua and that a marriage can so quickly get on the road to recovery…The resources taught by this Dr Itua love spell really work and can help repair a failing marriage. I would strongly recommend Dr Itua love spell to any couple that is considering divorce. One step will change your life and marriage .
ReplyDeleteHere is Dr itua contact..drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com whatsapp .. +2348149277967
I saw a comment here a few weeks ago about Dr Agbazara and I decided to contact him as instructed, thanks to this man for bringing joy to me as wished for. I followed instructions which he gave in order to get my lover back who left me and the kids for 3years now, but thanks to Dr Agbazara because they are back to me now for good and we are happy together. Please do contact him for help too if in a relationship problem via email at: ( agbazara@gmail.com ) OR Via WhatsApp on: ( +2348104102662 ). And testify for yourself.
DeleteIt's a pleasure for me to write this testimony about this wonderful thing that happened to me last week on how i got my HIV aids cured, i have been reading so-many post of some people who were cured of HIV, but i never believed them, I was hurt and depressed so I was too curious and wanted to try dr.odoma then i contacted him on his email on drodomasolutionhome20@gmail.com when i contact him, he assured me 100% that he will heal me, i pleaded with him to help me out, it's a great success that he healed just as he promised, he told me that in three days time that i should go and check on my HIV status, I was floored that when i went to the hospital to check of my status that i was HIV negative, i never thought possible that dr.odoma can do miracles, i never really believed in magic but I played along with a little hope and faith and after everything but dr odoma changed my life and made me a true believer you can contact him drodomasolutionhome20@gmail.com or whatsapp Number: +2348100649947 he said that he is also specialize on the following diseases: HERPES, HIV, ALS, HPV, DIABETES, HEPATITIS B, CANCER,SICKLE CELL, VIRGINAL DRYNESS, And Bring Back Your Ex back.
ReplyDeleteI saw a comment here a few weeks ago about Dr Agbazara and I decided to contact him as instructed, thanks to this man for bringing joy to me as wished for. I followed instructions which he gave in order to get my lover back who left me and the kids for 3years now, but thanks to Dr Agbazara because they are back to me now for good and we are happy together. Please do contact him for help too if in a relationship problem via email at: ( agbazara@gmail.com ) OR Via WhatsApp on: ( +2348104102662 ). And testify for yourself.
ReplyDelete