Developmental Implications Of Early Marriage In Nigera: A Study Of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.

ABSTRACT

This research work explored the issue of early marriage in Nigeria. It shed light

specifically on reasons behind its perpetuation, its harmful consequences, shows

how it constitutes a barrier to education and enjoyment of human rights by girls

and how it further threatens the development of the country. The findings from

respondents and extensive reading of materials related to early marriage suggest

that early marriage is due to various factors including among others, the search for

economic survival, protection of young girls, peer group and family pressure,

controlling female behavior and sexuality, wars and civil conflicts, socio-cultural

and religious values. It is a violation of girls’ human rights as it deprives her from

freedom, opportunity for personal development, and other rights. It is also a

developmental challenge for population pressure, health care costs and lost

opportunities of human development. It is a barrier to girls’ education as young

girls drop out of school to get married which impacts negatively on the community

as a whole and on the well-being of future generation. This practice stands in

direct conflict with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);

such as the promotion of basic education, fight against poverty, the prevention of

HIV/AIDS and reduction of maternal mortality rate in sub Saharan Africa and

Nigeria in particular. To deal with the problem, a number of strategies have been

suggested mainly for providing economic opportunities to young girls, promoting

education of girls and using mass media to increase the awareness of the whole

community about the consequences of early marriage on girls themselves, their

family and on the community as a whole.