It was Auguste Comte(father of sociology) who first argued that "once one stage is passed in human social evolution, the process is irreversible".

The trend of "singles" in nigeria
is gradually gaining momentum with each passing day.I said "gradually" becuse this is but the beginning of things to come.

Comte,, in his law of three stages, believes every society in there quest for civilization, go through three grand stage (theological, metaphysical, scientific/positive) stage. Each of this stage distinct itself from one another by way of characteristic. The theological stage for instance, is characterize by traditions, abstract forces and believe in deities.Conquest in this stage was seen as the only means of expanding frontiers. The theological stage is a cross between the two stage (I.e the theological and scientific). This is a stage were society is seen to have start making projection into the future, thereby leaving behind traditions and believes in deities or supernatural forces.

The final stage comte argued is the scientific/positive stage. This stage in which society has fully abandon traditions and believes in supernatural force, thereby adopting scientific method as the only way of verifying truth. In this final stage, any phenomenom that cannot be explain via way of scientific methods hold no place in society.

It must be said here, that sociological analysis, are most ly "macro level analysis" hence reference to gender is purely in the generic sense.

having establish the the above, there is need now to put clarity on the topic. First we must establish the stage the Nigerian society find itself. This without much argument happens to be the metaphysical stage. The stage like I tried to explain, is characterize by projection
Into the future. One in which societies tries to leave behind traditional/ theological believes in favour of scientific ones. Society in this stage has started to believe that there is more out there to embrace, hence its decision to part with "what has always been".

The Nigerian society has reached this junction. This explain our constant comparism with the west.(projection). In this stage, traditions and cultures are seen as excess bagages. Both tangible and intangible aspect of cultures are done away with.This explains why our society now tend to favour western names, food, clothes, and even deities to that of our much earlier traditional once.

As the force of civilazation gathers speed and as this new society starts to exact itself on members, other traditional values starts to loose their essense. Marriage being just one of many. As seen in most advance western societies, marriage/ family has long fallen in pecking other. While individual goals, ambitions and/or career has risen to take their place.

Many individual in our culture are already seeking explanation as to the cause of their single status. Many owe theirs to supernatural force while others to poor character management..etc. Sociological explanation does not concern itself with this since this phenomenon is not peculiar to any individual. Its a social constraint purely exacted by the force of change around us.

The good and the bad news of it, is that this trend would get even worst. The majority would loose out in all. The good news on the other hand, is that members of society would adapt and invent new ways to compensate as seen in other advance societies.

As we are gradually observing, Most women in our societies are already starting to see themselves proudly as "career women" and most as "working men". This is self explanatory as to were priorities now rest.

If then we most embrace modernization fully, then memberbers of society should rest in the knowledge that they must wave goodbye to their core tradition values as well as culture as they know it.

Brb