Under-Aged Marriage: What Good For Nigerian Youths?

Under the 1990 Marriage Act, 21 years is the legal age of marriage, but girls and boys may marry before this age with written consent [from a guardian or parent]
However, the Child Rights Act, which was passed in 2003, sets the age of marriage at 18 years-old. However, only 23 of Nigeria’s 36 states have adopted this act. As a result, in some areas of the country the minimum age of marriage can be as low as 12 years-old.
section 29(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) defines a minor as anyone below the age of 18 years (implying that only persons 18 years and above can be regarded as adult, ripe for marriage.
Few years back, a lively debate took place using the Hashtag #ChildNotBride on Twitter and an online petition to the United Nations gathered over 20,000 signatures to protest against child marriage.
In all of this, our country has continued to witness children rated as minors, take to themselves, wives and husbands with their parents either giving their full support, or being helpless about the situation.
Just recently, people expressed outrage after photos of an under aged “couple” were shared online. An 11-year -old -boy got married to his girlfriend.
The boy named Julius allegedly got married to a girl named Anthonia on Thursday, December 9, 2021, in Kaduna. A facebook user who lives in Kaduna claimed the wedding held in Jaba, Kaduna State.
Because of the age of the couple, people are calling for the parents of the children to be arrested.
Meanwhile, not long ago, the public was greeted with the news of a 17-year-old boy who a 16 – year-old for wife in Nnewi after the young couple insisted it’s what they wanted.
According to report, the  boy named Somto, from  Nwachukwu family in Okofia village, Otolo Nnewi, Anambra State, allegedly dropped out of school and insisted on getting married.
It was gathered that even though his family were not enthusiastic about it, they had no option than to give their support and have the traditional wedding organized in their favour.
Even though parents of under aged couples may appear to have given their consent to authenticate the union, the question still remains, are they equipped enough to tread the marriage route?  What do they know about marriage?
Someone once said that when couples marry young, they need not rush into things which includes having babies, they take their time before planning kids. It  is also argued that marrying too early in life leaves couples with the advantage of having their babies while age is still on their  marriage side.
On the contrary, have we considered the risk of shouldering responsibility  at a very young age?. Parents whose male children go into marriage at very tender age will attest that it is usually an added responsibility to them up to the level of catering for the child of the marriage as though it is their own child.
Dont forget missing out on the fun of teenage life and being young. A child who takes to marriage early in life automatically turns out to be neither here nor there. Nature seems to force them out of childhood to inexperienced adults.
Education is likely to be stalled as only very few well-to-do homes can continue the education of their children after they are married.
Overall health risks being distorted as early pregnancy can have a negative impact on overall health. It is on record that early marriage, which of course is tantamount to early pregnancy, is  the most common cause of vesico-vaginal fistula, a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth.
With all these side effects in sight, breakdown of marriage is possible.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi