Abstract
The rate at which people seek for the dissolution of their marriages in Nigeria is becoming quite alarming. Why would a couple who celebrated their union with so much fanfare, pomp and pageantry suddenly find themselves incompatible? The study was carried out in Irhirhi Community, Southern Nigeria using a triangulation of the qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of four hundred and fifty respondents and thirty-five interviewees were sampled. The study used the functionalist perspective to explain the perception of married couples on the issue of divorce. The findings of this study revealed that there were several causes of divorce amongst which are childlessness, adultery, financial difficulties and incompatibility of the couples. It was also discovered that divorce does not occur at the snap of the fingers but is an accumulation of happenings which were left unattended to. Interestingly, the study found that the married couples in Irhirhi Community, Southern Nigeria are basically not aware of the existence of laws on divorce. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the Religious, Non-Governmental Agencies, the family and the mass media should wake up to their responsibilities by inculcating the right family values in their members. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p454
Highlights
The celebration of marriage in Nigeria is one phenomenon that usually elicits a lot of funfair and happiness on the part of the would-be couples, their parents and friends
While data on divorce exist in advanced nations as depicted in Weikel and Wilson (2006) assertion that divorce in the United States of America is on the increase, the availability of authentic statistical records showing the rate of divorce in Nigeria cannot be found except on the pages of newspapers and court files if such were resolved in the law court
How do married couples especially in Irhirhi Community, Southern Nigeria perceive the cause of divorce? 2
Summary
The celebration of marriage in Nigeria is one phenomenon that usually elicits a lot of funfair and happiness on the part of the would-be couples, their parents and friends. Older persons and religious ministers at such celebrations, usually advice the couple on how to have a blissful marriage as well as on how to handle conflicts within the home. The essence of giving such unsolicited advice is to ensure that the couples have a stress free marriage. It would appear that these marriages either get too late to the couples or that they from time to time chart their own marriage prototype which in most cases result in divorce. The incidence and prevalence of divorce in Nigeria and the world in general is quite alarming and the issue needs urgent attention. While data on divorce exist in advanced nations as depicted in Weikel and Wilson (2006) assertion that divorce in the United States of America is on the increase, the availability of authentic statistical records showing the rate of divorce in Nigeria cannot be found except on the pages of newspapers and court files if such were resolved in the law court
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