Women
Child Marriage: An Undying Culture?
The plight of the girlchild in Northern Nigeria is very pathetic. The ideal age for marriage, for ladies though it varies, is usually between 20 to 26 and 25 to 30 for men, but it is an entirely different issue when it has to do with Northern Nigeria.
In the North, little girls who have started menstruating are considered mature for marriage and the case of menstruation varies as a girl of twelve can be given out for marriage based on the fact that she has started menstruating.
Early marriage or child marriage is a pre-dominant phenomenon especially in interior villages of northern Nigeria.
Infact, it is virtually their way of life and it is seen as normal.
Parents derive pleasure in the practice of giving out their young daughters to older men in marriage. This practice thrives, due to a number of factors to some parents, it is a way of raising their economic and social status. They give out their girl-child to a man whose family is wealthy and who they feel can cater for the girl as well as her parents not considering what she wants thereby relegating the significance of love to the background.
Gender-bias is another factor that has facilitated the ugly monster called early marriage of the girl-child in Northern Nigeria. Parents of these children due to their mind-set, see the girl-child as a weak sex, they place little or no value on her and as such perceive her as one not worth the stress of upbringing.
Lack of education has also been fingered as a major propeller of this tradition of a sect.
Because these girls have no educational background, their parents see them as burden worth getting rid of by marrying them off.
Pressures from older members of the family and community also contribute immensely in this direction. Moreso, the notion that early pregnancy leads to larger families and hence providing heirs to the throne has beclouded the sense of reasoning of those concerned.
As enticing as this practice seems, it has its harmful effects on these little girls which the parents are ignorant of, but it is high time they changed their mentality for the better because early marriage has inflicted dangerous and devastating effects on young children who are compelled to tie the knot. Some of these effects are;
Psychological and emotional stress like forced sexual relationship, denial of freedom and personal development as taking care of household chores now becomes a priority for the girl-child. She is faced with the responsibility of raising children when in most cases her system is not yet prepared and mature enough for such function of preparing food for her husband and keeping the house neat at all times. This of course is a tedious task for a girl of fourteen.
Severe health problems during pregnancy and child birth is the fallout of this phenomenon. This is because, these girls were not well developed before they conceived, which of course make delivery difficult, and this resulting to high mortality rate. There is also the threat of sexually transmitted diseases which she is exposed to in such an environment.
These men who marry these young victims are no mates of theirs. They are such that are already mature and developed. Some of them take undue advantage of the immature age of their so called wives to frolic with free ladies outside their marriage.
The result is that diseases are contracted along the line and passed on to these innocent ones who eventually bear the brunt of such ailments.
Ailments such as Visco Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and other unpopular reproductive track diseases have become common among these young ones because they were forced into early sexual and reproductive activities.
Aside the health risks involved in this matter, the girl child remains perpetually enslaved and undeveloped. Woe betides her if she had not seen or finished her secondary education before she is forced into marriage because she will never think in that direction again except a fortunate few.
These master-husbands so cage these young wives so much that their freedom of movement and interaction are infringed upon. They fear that the wives if let out could become exposed and hence wiser to the detriment of the husbands.
The Nigerian constitution recognisers any child under the age of 18 years as minor, and so such can not decide for him/herself but depend wholly on the parents.
The parents on their part must not betray the confidence reposed on them by these young ones by way of exchanging them for purpose of cushioning the effect of harsh economy.
The rights and privileges of theses young ones must be protected.
Ephraim Elizabeth
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
