AN EVALUATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES AND LEGAL PARADIGM OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Generally, it is apt to state that marriage is said to be between two consenting adults. However, in Nigeria, it hasbeen observed that the issues of child marriage is becoming on the increase. This is concerning the fact that studyhas revealed that in Nigeria, particularly northern Nigeria has some of the highest rates of early marriage in theworld. Furthermore, it suffices to state that there are lots of adverse of consequences that goes with childmarriage. Although, there are international and domestic laws that tend to stipulate the minimum age of marriage.However, despite the said law, there is still increase of child marriage in Nigeria. It is in this regard, that thisstudy employs the use of doctrinal study in examining the consequences of child marriage in Nigeria.Furthermore, the study will also examine the various international and domestic laws as it relates to childmarriage in Nigeria in ascertaining to what extent they regulate child marriage. The study therefore concludesand recommends that, though there are laws that condemned child marriage in Nigeria, however, there is still anincrease rate of child marriage in Nigeria. In this regard, the government, community and NGO should ensurean appropriate compliance with the laws that condemned child marriage.