A cross section of Nigerians have decried the alarming
rate of break-up of marriages in the society as shown in
divorce cases in customary courts.
The stakeholders, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria,
NAN, in separate interviews, expressed sadness over the
development, noting that the Nigerian family system was
fast degenerating into fragmented society.
Investigation by NAN at two customary courts in Mapo,
Ibadan, Oyo State, revealed that between January 2014
and December 2015, no fewer than 500 divorce suits
were filed out of which 468 of the marriages were
dissolved.
Speaking on the development, Chief Ademola Odunade,
Presiding President of one of the customary courts,
identified high rate of unemployment in the country
among factors responsible for broken homes.
He explained that most of the divorce cases in the courts
were as a result of the inability of the man, the head of
the family, to cater for his wife and children.
The judge advised that spouse should always learn to
revert to the old practice of using intermediary who
could easily mediate when marital crises arose rather
than seeking dissolution of their union in court.
Another Ibadan based customary court president and a
community leader, Mr Henric Agbaje, said that fading
culture of payment of bride price and dowry was
responsible for collapse in marriages.
Agbaje explained that though men at that time had many
wives because of the nature of their occupation
(farming), they still cohabited peacefully and displayed
sincerity and tolerance.
The jurist identified disintegration of cultural and family
values occasioned by modern trends as among the
factors for the high rate of divorce.
In her contribution, Miss Toibat Oladele, a divorcee,
noted that investigating one’s spouse thoroughly during
courtship was imperative to a successful marriage.
Another divorcee, a banker, who identified herself
simply as Morayo, said that her marriage lasted for just
18 months when she quitted.
Some other divorcees who spoke on condition of
anonymity identified infidelity, irresponsibility,
negligence, distrust and sexual starvation among the
reasons for the break in their marriages.
Mr Mojeed Adeleke, a regular observer of divorce cases
at Mapo Customary Courts, said that old spouses who
were supposed to be good examples to newly married
ones were not doing any better, judging from cases in
the courts.
Adeleke frowned at the high rate of divorce cases
involving couples in their late 60s and 70s.
He noted that in most cases, the unions had reached
four to five decades with their children already grown up
and even married. Professor Adeniyi Olatunbosun, the
Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, said the
high rate of marriage dissolutions arose from social
problems such as bad economy and intolerable
attitudes. He said government should address the
challenge of high rate of unemployment in the society to
reduce divorce and encourage blissful marriages.
Professor Julius Ademokoya, also of the University of
Ibadan, said that cultural, attitudinal and lack of proper
understanding of what marriage is all about contributed
to the high rate of marriage break up in the society.
Ademokoya, a rehabilitation counsellor, advised would-
be couples to always understudy themselves properly
and iron out all issues before embarking on the lifelong
journey called marriage.
Mr Kolawole Oyerinde, an Ibadan based lawyer, said s
that at least five divorce cases were filed daily at the Oyo
State High Court.
Another expert, Professor Oka Obono, Director, Centre
for Peace and Conflict Studies, CEPACS, University of
Ibadan, explained that the context of modern industrial
society was largely responsible for setbacks in
marriages.
Obono said many marriages crumbled owing to constant
mobility occasioned by transfer at work which created
disharmony among couples.
The sociologist counseled that couples should imbibe the
culture of patience and moral accountability.
Mr Dotun Odebode, an Ibadan based pastor, blamed the
rising divorce cases on the refusal of couples to allow
God to decide for them through fervent prayers.


nationalmirroronline.net/new/unemployment-crashing-nigerians-marriages/

It is sad

Why cant we leave the so called marriage alone?...This fu^cking marriage of a thing is overhyped. Even some of the married ones re jumping out of it. For the last time i checkd, marriage is not a do or die affair.

This is really serious, the effect of divorce will be on the children, that is why couples should plan the number of children they have to raise, if it is one or two because anything can happen ( although nobody is praying for any misfortune). Nigeria's economic recession has either directly or indirectly dealth a heavy blow on families. 'God have mercy' .I really empathise with men who have lost their jobs because no matter how some of them try to hustle, it will hardly have impart on the family,