ARTICLE SUMMARY
| Title: | Early-Child Marriage and Poverty Level of Women in Ebonyi State: Implications for Socioeconomic Development |
| Author(s): | Ndukwe C. & Offiah Goodness A. |
| Abstract: | This study broadly sought to investigate early-child marriage and the poverty level of women in Ebonyi State vis-a-vis the overall implications for socioeconomic development in Nigeria. Specifically the study examined the extent to which early-child marriage affect the poverty level of women in Ebonyi State; and assessed the general consequences of early-child marriage on socioeconomic development in Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive research design based on survey method, wherein statistical inferences were drawn on quantitative data gathered through self-structured questionnaire, administered on a sample size of 400 participants got from six (6) selected local government areas in Ebonyi state. The study adopted the non-probability purposive sampling technique, whilst the 'Eco-Violence Theory' was adopted as its theoretical framework. Out of the 400 copies of distributed questionnaire, only 334 (representing 83.5%) were completely filled and returned which formed the quantitative data analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27, and presented in frequency distribution tables. Qualitative data were gathered through focus group discussions conducted (based on Vignette format) in three (3) local governments and analyzed using content analytical method. Findings revealed that early-child marriage adversely affects poverty level of women in Ebonyi state to a significant extent, as many are hardly able to manage early childbearing and development, to the extent that they can barely sustain viable means of livelihood. The study concluded that no meaningful form/level of development can be fully sustained if all women (who make up almost half of the entire population) are not provided with a safe and secure environment where they can uninhibitedly unleash their full potentials, devoid of inequality, early-forced marriages and other forms of violence. In line with the findings, the study recommended amongst others that Government should prioritize measures to protect against child marriages and address gender inequality, by revising the national gender policy and other statutory provisions such as the Child Rights Acts to facilitate sound legal frameworks for adequate protection; likewise ensuring that anyone who violates the rights of the girl-child in terms of underage marriage is adequately punished and sentenced accordingly. |
| Keywords: | Gender-based Violence, Early-child Marriage, Poverty, Socioeconomic Development |
Editorial Board
EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Prof. Jonathan E. Aliede
DEPUTY EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Agatha Obiageri Orji-Egwu, Ph.D
MANAGING EDITOR
SÃmon Ugochukwu Nwankwo, Ph.D
EDITORS
Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude
Prof. Angela Nwanmuo
Prof. Tyotom Keghku
Prof. Muyiwa Poopola
Prof. Nnanyelugo Okoro
Prof L. I. Ogbuoshi
Ruth. Chika Okorie, Ph.D
Adeola Sidikat Oyrleke, Ph.D
Celestine Ukeoma, Ph.D