CHAPTER 1----INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The advent and adoption of the western culture due to the coming of the colonial masters in Nigeria brought with it the introduction of a foreign culture which was embraced with open arms due to the fact that the administration of the country was in the hands of the colonial masters. Therefore western culture brought western civilization. Western culture constitutes the social norms, belief, customs, ethical values associated with countries and nations of Europe; J. Spiel Vogel, Jackson (2016). Apparently in Nigeria this were the influence of the colonial master of the then British, America etc. Consequently, the development of the western culture was the introduction of Christian influence in Nigeria over the Nigerian traditional cultural system. This influence permeates various aspect of life including the marriage institution. Traditional culture is defined as the customs and practices in a particular culture. The Nigerian traditional marriage culture constitutes the traditional marriage customs of the Nigerian traditional society. The contact of the western culture with the Nigerian traditional culture brought with it many changes which have brought significant changes to the traditional marriage system. Therefore, many Nigerians have adopted church and registry marriage over the traditional marriage institutions. Therefore, traditional marriages are only recognized when church and registry marriages have been culminated. It is also believed that the many social vices of the society is the result of the influence of western culture such as divorce, single parenthood, child neglect due to work by working class parents, etc. The increasing consequences of western culture over traditional beliefs and practices constitute a debate over the validity of Nigerian traditional marriage system. The study seeks to investigate the collapsing trends in Nigeria marriages with a focus on resident in ibeju- lekki.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The increasing rate and consequences of divorce, social vices resulting from child neglect, women autonomy, and single parenthood in our traditional society are pointers that the influence of the western culture over traditional institutions requires a re-evaluation. Culture is the totality of a system, knowledge, belief, arts, morals, customs, laws and other capabilities of a society acquired through learning and transferred to others from one generation to another. Therefore, the re -assessment of societal values which affect the promotion of good and ethical values in our traditional society is imperative. Ajiboye et al (2012) observed that the neglect of child care by many educated parents contradict the traditional methods of child care which constitute a fundamental factor to social and cultural development in the society. The problem confronting the study is to investigate the collapsing trends in Nigeria marriages with a focus on resident in ibeju- lekki.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main study objective is to investigate the collapsing trends in Nigeria marriages with a focus on residents in ibeju- lekki.; While the specific objectives of the study include;
- To appraise the relevance of marriage in Nigeria.
- To determine the level of collapsing marriages in Nigeria.
- To determine the effects of the collapsing marriages in Ibeju-Lekki land.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. What are the relevance of marriage in Nigeria?
ii. What is the level of collapsing marriages in Nigeria?
iii. What are the effects of the collapsing marriages in Ibeju-Lekki land?
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study seeks to provide an evaluative appraisal to determine the reasons for the collapsing trends of Nigerian marriages with a view to providing information to relevant stakeholders to proffers remedy.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the investigation of the collapsing trends in Nigeria marriages with a focus on residents in ibeju- lekki.
1.6 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study was confronted with logistic and geographical constraint.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
MARRIAGE DEFINED
A consensual and contractual relationship between spouses recognized by law
CULTURE DEFINED
Culture is the totality of a system, knowledge, belief, arts, morals, customs, laws and other capabilities of a society acquired through learning and transferred to others from one generation to another.
WESTERN CULTURE DEFINED
Western culture constitutes the social norms, belief, customs, ethical values associated with countries and nations of Europe. Apparently in Nigeria this were the influence of the colonial master of the then British, America etc. Consequently the development of the western culture was the introduction of Christian influence in Nigeria over the Nigerian traditional cultural system. This influence permeates various aspect of life including the marriage institution.
TRADITIONAL CULTURE DEFINED
Traditional culture is defined as the customs and practices in a particular culture. The Nigerian traditional marriage culture constitute the traditional marriage customs of the Nigerian traditional society.
