1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Marriage is the relation between married persons, it involves the action or act of marrying in which two persons are made husband and wife. ( the Webster Reference dictionary of English Language Volume 1). Marriage is a union between a mature man and woman for the purpose of companionship and procreation.
It is a noble institution recognized by God and man. According to the Holy Bible in second chapter of Genesis verse 24. It is written that “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
This institution is meant for reproduction and fruitfulness and is for mature minded individuals that are mentally, emotionally, economically and psychologically balanced Faoya (2002). This prerequisite is necessary because the individuals need to understand because the individuals need to understand one another and be capable to live peacefully with one another for a lifetime.
Igwe (2003) stated that marriage is the first oldest institution in the Bible that God Instituted with the intent to make life meaningful and fulfilling and therefore should not be approached without adequate preparation knowing that the consequences of the life long relationship could be very grave.
Diehl Lampe and Laton (2002) commented that from generation to generation marriage has been considered a sacred issue and it was being entered into with respect, caution and dignity, both with time, all these values depreciated and are no longer respected . Diehl, et al (2002) also emphasized the legality of marriage.
The further explained that a marriage of two people is a legal contract with each country having laws that define the right and obligations of each party in marriage. Young people thinking of marriage should therefore be sure they that understand the legal aspects, as well as the personal and social aspects of marriage. Marriage can be made in a Christian or Muslim way, law court and traditional way. There are different forms of marriage such as monogamy, polyandry, liverate, sourrate.
(igwe 2003)In Obowo local government, most families due to greed, lust for wealth and selfish tendencies give their daughters for marriage even with or without their consent.
The issue of early marriage is assuming alarming dimension in Obowo Local Government Area. Women who are lured into early marriage are deprived of educational pursuits and when this happens their major attention becomes how to nurse children and face challenges affecting a new family setting. As we know, education starts from birth and ends in the grave. It is a continuous process in the life of an individual. It shapes the total outlook and behaviors of an individual and enhances its status in society.'
The right and privileges of a woman as discussed in 1989 women conference in Atlanta U.S.A, stressed the importance of educating young girls and women generally before allowing them settle in their husbands home. The inability of most women to take advantage of educational opportunities account for the uneven representation of women in the scheme of things in Nigeria and especially in Obowo Local Government Area, where most important official position were given to men to the neglect of women.
This study has been motivated by the number of factors inherent in the people's culture, which brought about a well institutionalized early marriage syndrome in Obowo. Parents who gave their female children Western education were treated with disdain.
One of the objectives of this study therefore is to highlight the various environments in which early marriage strives in Obowo and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the system in the overall development of the community.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The practice of early marriage is a common experience in Obowo Local Government Area in Imo State. Girls as young as (16) sixteen years are given to marriage by their parents.
The practice is even assuming and alarming proportion as almost every compound or nuclear family as now being affected by the practice. Girls abandon their education in preference to making a home under such situation. The schools cannot produce reasonable number of educated women and the problem of women marginalization deepens.
Efforts by the state Government to correct the situation through Public Enlightenment as well as the federal government Programme on universal Basic Education which enjoins all children of school age irrespective of their gender, creed, social origin etc have not improved the status quo.
If the practice of early marriage in Amuzi Obowo is not addressed properly now, most girls will still remain uneducated and illiteracy and its attendant problems continue to deepen. The problem which this study sets out to investigate is delineated in this question. What could be the possible consequences of early marriage on the education of the women in Obowo Local Government Area?
1.3 Scope of the Study
The study is to identify the impact of early marriage in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State. The Research is limited to Obowo Local Government Area. The study will take into account the rural women and the social clubs in the area with a view to getting oral information on their views on early marriage in the area.
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to;
- Ascertain whether early marriage has any bearing with the decline of enrollment of women in tertiary institutions of the state.
- Establish the impact of early marriage on the level of educational attainment of the women in Obowo.
- Examine the extent early marriage affected privileges and right of women in Obowo.
- Find out the impact of early marriage on the role of women in the development of Obowo Local Government Area.
1.5 Significance of Study
Since the focus of this study is on women in Obowo, it implies that the primary beneficiary of the study is the women group in the community. The study will create awareness to the evils of early marriage and therefore make them to be in better position to decide when to maturely get involved in marriage.
Besides, the entire community will also benefit because an appraisal of this study will enlighten the men who have the habit of being involved in marrying young girls within the age limit of this study to desist from doing so.
Since Obowo is an integral part of a larger community Viz the Local Government Area, the state and nation in general, this study will therefore be of immerse significance to the general public as it is intended to discourage early marriage an therefore enable the women tap full potentials such as education, industry and commerce.
The study will also raise a higher interest in academic pursuits as it may attract more research interest in problems associated with women.
1.6 Research Questions
The following research questions will be used in carrying out this study.
- To what extent is early marriage associated with the decline of enrollment of women in tertiary institution of the state?
- What is the impact of early marriage on the level of educational attainment of women in Obowo?
- To what extent does early marriage affect the privileges and right of women in Obowo?
- What is the impact of early marriage on the role of women in the development of Obowo?
- What are the possible ways of curbing the problems associated with early marriage?
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