CHILD MARRIAGE BILL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN NIGERIA

A
TERM PAPER
ON
THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILL
AND
ITS IMPLICATIONS
IN
NIGERIA
BY
100 LEVEL STUDENTS
DEPARTMENT OF QUANTITY SURVEYING
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE
SUBMITTED TO

DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL STUDIES
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE







TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILLSS
Literature review of the child marriage bill
Child marriage and Betrothal. Are they the same?
Likely causes of child marriage
2.3.1 Believe / custom
2.3.2 Poverty
2.3.3 Poor orientation of parents
2.3.4 Negligence or deliberate shunning
IMPLICATIONS OF THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILL.
Positive implications
Negative implications
3.2.1. Contracting of sex related disease
3.2.2. Psychological effect
3.2.3. Societal effect
3.2.4. Victimization and maltreatment
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AND THE RE-ADDRESSAL OF THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILL
Possible solutions to Child marriage.
Re-addressal of the child marriage bill.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
Recommendation
REFERENCE










INTRODUCTION
Childs marriage has been one of the major problems troubling the affairs of many nations. This term paper will enlighten us more on the child marriage bill using Nigeria as a case study, but before that what is “child marriage?”
Child marriage refers to any marriage i.e. formal or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching the age of 18 (Wikipedia).
The aim of this term paper is to shine more light on the argument about the child marriage bill being right or wrong. Child marriage is rampant in the Northern part of Nigeria because of its high Muslim concentration and the frequent use of the Sharia Law.
   

































2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW  OF THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILL
      2.1  Literature review of the child marriage bill
On the 24th of July 2013, a bill was passed into law by the parliamentary house, given legal backing to the act of early child marriage. This implies that matured men; even 30 years and above, now have the freedom to marry very young girls even as young as 12 years 13 years. Prior to this bill, the legal minimum age that was acceptable for marriage was 18years. The negative effects of early child marriage cannot be over emphasized. As this paper progresses, these effects will be extensively discussed. This is in support of those that are already against the bill and to orientate people on the adverse effects it has so as not to venture into it.
2.2 Child marriage and betrothal are they the same
Early child marriage can also be likened to the child betrothal that was practiced before in Nigeria. Betrothal according to wikitionary.org is a mutual promise, engagement or contract of future marriage between persons. This decision was made by the parents or guardians of the persons to be betrothed.
    2.3 Likely causes of child marriage.
2.3.1Believe/Custom
Early marriage is most prominent in the northern part of Nigeria, which is due to their belief. In most part of the north, they believe a female child first menstruation period should be experience in her husband’s house. In some cases these girls are betrothed even before birth to a man old enough to be her father. These believes are the hindrances to child marriage eradication in Nigeria.   


2.3.2 Poverty.
Poverty is another major reason why child marriage is on the rise in Nigeria. Some of the parents of those girls bow to the pressure of advances made by the rich men to get married to their girls even at a tender age     PICTURE (1) SHOWS A GRAPH OF A MARRIED AND SINGLE MOTHER POVERTY RATE
2.3.3 Poor orientation of parents
Parents that give their young girls out in marriage do so at times because they are poorly oriented , the men that involve themselves in this act  likewise are also poorly oriented on the adverse effects this have on the life of the poor little girl and their lives of the poor little girl and the nation in extension
2.3.4 Negligence and deliberate shunning
As stated earlier , the early child marriage is caused by the lackadaisical attitude of the parents and the spouse towards what could be the effects of getting a young girl to marry early which will affects the young girl in ways that will be treated in 6the next aspect of the term paper







3.0 IMPLICATION OF THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILL
3.1 Positive implication of the child marriage bill
To every 10 bad things there is always a good effect or thing, therefore under normal conditions child marriage should have its own positive effects
Looking at it from the Islamic point of view we would see that child marriage prevents girls from being promiscuous and reduces the rate of fornication among girls. Child marriage also helps to enforce socialites in the sense that it helps to create mutual relationship between two people (viewing it in regards to betrothment )
3.2 Negative implication of the child marriage bill
3.2.1. Contracting of sexual related diseases
Getting a very young girl to get married of course at a tender age obviously will prematurely expose her to a lot of things . One of these things is sex and with sex, comes its diseases . most prominent of the disease that can be contracted by a young girl in a sex relationship , particularly with an adult is the vesico – vaginal fistula (VVF). This is a disease that cause urine to trickle out of the vagina incessantly and uncontrollable or without  notice , which could later lead to death
3.2.2. Psychological effect
One of the important negative effects of child marriage to be considered is its psychological effect. According to many psychiatrist and psychologist it has been diagnosed and analyzed that woman that are marriage before the age of 18 (proposed maturity age under the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria ) are linked with greater risk of depression , anxiety , and bipolar disorder . They are mostly or likely to be addicted to drugs, alchol, and smoking.
3.2.3. Societal effect
As stressed earlier, whatever effect child marriage has on young girls involved in extension affects the society at large negatively children that ensure from this dangerous act usually have a bad upbringing due to inexperience or cluelessness of the young mother in parenting. In most cases children apart from adding little or no value to themselves the community and the nation at large, end up creating nuisance to the community . the mother likewise , due to the stall in education ,different psychological trauma are reduced in value they would have added to themselves  , their family and the nation in extension . All this things sum up and affect our country Nigeria as a whole , stalls our development as a whole , increase crime rate among other . An increase in rate at which young girls are given out in marriage has its effects on our general growth as a nation and if addressed in turn helps the nation`s growth. PICTURE (2) SHOWS AN IMMATURE HAVING DIFFICULTIES IN TAKING CARE OF THE CILDREN  
3.2.4. Victimization and maltreatment
As pointed out in the introduction, most of the men involved in child marriage are men that have their house already full i.e. having two or more mature women as wives, who due to their age difference between them and the newly wedded wife take advantage of her and making life almost unbearable for her.  PICTURE (3) SHOWS AN UNMATURED WHO`S MALTREATED













4.0. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AND THE RE-ADDRESSAL OF THE CHILD MARRIAGE BILL
4.1 Possible solutions to Child marriage.
Create awareness on the effect of early marriage and the human rights it abuses.
Encourage state – level authorities to adopt the federal laws that establish 18 years as the legal age for all marriage for girls.
Enlighten communities through public campaigns, pledges or incentives scheme.
Develop special social and health support structures for young first time mothers
Encourage government and communities to getting girls to school on time and then in school through the secondary level.      
PICTURE () SHOWS AN INSCRIPTION “SAVE GIRL CHILD”
            4.2 Re - addressal of the child marriage bill.
The major remedy to child marriage to child marriage in  Nigeria is for the parliament to re – addressing the child marriage bill and change their stand on it , due to its numerous implication to the nation as a whole
Another way of reducing this act is by re – orientating parties involved about the implications attached to giving young girls or teens out in marriage . And for those in it already , awareness should also be done , for them to know , no matter the pit they find themselves, they can still rise once again
  









5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
    Child marriage is child abuse , which denies young girls their right to freedom of expression or freewill . Nigeria will be better if this absurd and dangerous act is discouraged , as it implication is discussed in this paper.
5.2 Recommendation
Generally Nigerians should try to stop or eradicate the habit of child marriage due to its adverse effect and their child marriage bill should  be re – addressed in the house and senate because its negative effect on the country will be worse and unfavorable . The child marriage bill was pass into due to unsubstantial points and its also refutes some of the law in the constitution of the country.

    



























REFERENCE
Amplifyyourvoice.org/n/radical/2012
Http://nigeria .unfpa.org/nigeriachild.html
http://www.eleggantupdates.blogspot.com/2013/07/child-marriage-in-nigeria-beginning-of-.htm
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/chld-marriage
The effect of early marriage by radical
The challenge of early marriage on the girl child. Written by Rita Gonyok
Available at www.Nigeriavillagesquare.com/article
www.studymode.com/essay/lit-review -on-child-marriage
wikitionary.org