THE INJUSTICE OF EARLY MARRIAGE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GIRL CHILD IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/290jh153Keywords:
Betrothal, Discrimination, Girl-child, Interventions, Practices, Rights, StatusAbstract
The article critically examined the socio-economic effects of early marriage on the girl-child in Nigeria, using Delta State as a case study with which to generalize on the country because of similarities in the practice. Early marriage is not new among many ethnic groups of the world particularly in Nigeria. However, the practice is the product of tradition, culture and religion. The study which utilized the in-depth and key informant interviews and group focus discussions revealed that child marriage is a common feature in the communities studied with its attendant negative reverberations on the girl-child and society. It further showed that it may likely not discontinue despite conventions against it. The study however recommended intervention strategies to equip the girls in all ramifications to free them from the burden of forced marriages and guarantee their future wellbeing.
Downloads
References
1. Abdallah, B.A 2011. Girl child marriage and women development in Nigeria: contemporary issues. Journal
of Development and Psychology. 14(9). 248-259.
2. Amadife, E. A 2011. Developmental implications of early marriage in Nigeria: a study of Uzo-Uwani local
government area: Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis
3. Ango, R.G 1991. The impact of girls’ education on early marriage: Independent Evaluation Report.
CAMFED and CAMA Programmes in Zimbabwe.
4. Asad, A. 2014. 42% of underage married girls from Pakistan. Express Tribune/International Herald Tribune
and New York Times.
5. Awe, B 2004. “The feminist saga: the Nigerian experience”. 11th J. F. Odunjo Memorial Lecture, Conference
Centre, University of Ibadan.
6. Awowgbade, M. and Alti-Mu’azu, M. 2000. The girl-boy child in Kaduna and Kano states, Nigeria GirlChild Today. Lagos: IAC Monograph No. 4.
7. Bala. B. T 2003. Teen pregnancy: a global tragedy. New York: Watchtower Bible and Track Society Inc.
8. Bammeke, F 2004. “Gender and early childhood marriage in Niger state” in Jike, V.T. (ed). Lagos: NISS Publications.
9. Bearak, B 2006. The bride price. (http:www.nytimes.com2006/07/09/magazine). New York Times
10. Boyden, J.O., Pankhurt, A. and Tafero, Y 2012. Child protection and human traditional practice: female early
marriage in Ethiopia. Child Protection in Development. 22(4): 510-522.
11. Bryce, J. 1998. A feminist study of fiction Nigerian women writers. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
12. Eralkar, A. & Bello, G. 2007. The experience of adolescence in rural Amhara region, Ethiopia; UNFPA,
UNICEF and Population Council. New York: Population Council.
13. Giyan, H. A. 2009. Women in education: equity and equality. Berkeley: McBucheon.
14. Haruna, H. B. 2003. A cultural history of uncared form the early times to 1962. Lagos: The Book Company
Limited.
15. Jain, S. and Kurz, K. 2007. New insights on preventing child marriage: a global analysis of factors and
programs. Washington, D.C.: ICRW.
16. Klugman, J., Hanner, L. Twigg, S., Hasan, T. and McCleary-Sills, J. 2014. Voices and agency. empowering
women and girls for shared prosperity. Washington, DC: World Bank.
17. Lloyd, C. B. 2005. Growing up globally: the changing transitions to adulthood in developing countries.
Washington, D.C; National Academic Press.
18. Locoh, T. 2000. Early marriage and motherhood in sub-sahara Africa. Senegal; African Environment.
19. Malhotra A., Warner, A. McGonagle, A. and Lee-Riffers, S. 2011. Solutions to end child marriage: what the
evidence shows: Washington, D.C. International Centre for Research on women.
20. Nour, N. M. 2009. Child marriage is a silent health and human rights issue. Reviews in Obstetrics and
Gynaecology 2. (1);234-246.
21. Olujinmi, B. 2009. “Integrating women in Nigerian policy for growth and development: perspectives from
Obasanjo’s administration (1999-2007)” in Kehinde, A. (ed). dender and Development. Ibadan: Hope
Publicaions Ltd.
22. Onoyase, A. 2020. Causes of child marriage and its effects on the child in Jigawa state, north west Nigeria:
implications for counselling. Journal of Education and Training Studies. 8 (4); 50-54.
23. Otite, O. and Ogionwo, W. 2006. An introduction to sociological studies. Ibadan: Heinemann Educational
Books (Nigeria) Plc
24. Otite, R. E. 2006. The Urhobo woman. Ibadan: Gold Press Limited
25. Rai, A. 2010. When the mother is a child: the impact of child marriage on the health and human rights of girl.
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 95 (1): 931-935.
26. Santhya, K. G. Haberland, N. and Singh, A. J. 2006. She knew only when the garland was put around her
neck: findings from an exploratory study on early marriage in Rajasthan: New Delhi, Population Council.
27. Showdhury, F.D 2004. The social cultural context of child marriage in Bangladeshi village. International
Journal of Social Welfare 13 (3): 244-253.
28. Soraya, J. 2006. Modernity and early marriage in Iran. Journal of Middle East Women Studies. 2(1): 65-94.
29. UNFPA 2012, Marrying too young: end child marriage. New York: UNFPA
30. UNICEF 2005. Early marriage: a harmful traditional practice: a statistical exploration . New York: UNICEF.
31. UNICEF 2014. Hidden in plain sight: a statistical analysis of violence against children. New York: UNICEF.
32. UNICEF 2010. Child marriage advocacy programme: fact sheet on child marriage and early union. New
York: UNICEF.
33. UNICEF, 2014a. Ending child marriage: progress and prospects. New York: UNICEF.
34. Utulu, R. E. 2001. The psychological burden of the girl-child in Nigeria: traditional practices. Ibadan:
Stirling-Horden Publishers (Nig.) Ltd.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 AUTHOR
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
