Positive Projects World: ASSESSMENT OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF EARLY CHILD MARRIAGE IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Newspapers play the traditional role of educating the masses and setting agenda for public action. News coverage can have a strong influence on how the public will respond to societal issues. Child marriage as a global issue involves the giving out to marriage a child who is not mentally, psychologically, emotionally or physically prepared for a marital life to an older man who most times has children same age as the girl bride. It is a human rights violation that denies girls their rights to health, education, equality, free from violation and exploitation.

Okafor and Oyakhiromen (2014) citing United Nations see child marriage as “any marriage carried out below the age of eighteen (18) years before the girl is physically, psychologically, and psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and child bearing”. A child who is a minor does not consent to marriage decision about a life partner.

According to Maharjan et’al (2012). “Child marriage is a product of cultures that devalue women and girls and discriminate against them”, and it is also a “gross violation of human rights and a barrier to girl’s health and social wellbeing” Poverty, poor educational attainment, and strong social and religious traditions are drivers of child marriage in Nigeria. Child marriage is mostly prevalent in Northern Nigeria. The child when married assumes the role of a wife, daughter in- law, mother and housekeeper. She is deprived of education, and any chance of her developing her own personality and growing professionally.

UNICEF’s report on child marriage in 2006, rates is that 43% of girls are married off before their 18th birthday, while 17% of the girls are married off before they turn 15. UNICEF reports that, “Worldwide, more than 700 million women alive today were married as children. More than 1 in 3 – or some 250 million – were married before 15”.

According to UNICEF rates of child marriage are highest in sub-Saharan Africa across the globe, around 4 in 10 girls marry before age 18; about one in eight were married or in union before age 15 also, West and Central Africa have the highest percentage (42%) of women aged 20 to 24 years who were first married or in union before age 15 and after age 15 but before age 18. UNICEF report further states that globally about one in seven adolescents and girls (aged 15 to 19) are currently married or in union, while West and Central Africa have the highest proportion of married adolescents (27%). Girls that are married before they are eighteen years pose the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS because of unprotected sex with their spouse who is older and might have other sexual partners. Child marriage threaten girls’ lives and health, and it limits the girl-Childs’ future prospects. These girls are disempowered and suffer so many illnesses. UNICEF (2016).

According to Malhotra (2010) “Girls who marry young are at a higher risk of dying during childbirth, having their child die before its first birthday, contracting AIDS and becoming a victim of domestic violence”. The girls could easily fall prey to maternal/infant mortality, and are susceptible to health condition such as Vesico vaginal Fistula (VVF), and other pregnancy issues.

Since 1959, issues such as human rights abuse, health matters, immorality, ethics, culture, social stigma and others related to children’s rights have been in focus with the declaration of the Rights of the Child by the United Nation in 1989. In 2003, Nigeria adopted the Child Rights Act to domesticate the convention on the rights of child; although, the Child’s Right Act was adopted in Nigeria, issues related to children’s right (child abuse, child labour, child trafficking) still occur in Nigeria. There was heightened discussions on child marriage in 2013 in Nigeria because of the attempt by the Senate to change section 29, sub section 4 of the Nigerian constitution legalising the marriageable age of a Nigerian girl to 18. Akinlami (2013).

Cases of child marriage abound in the Nigerian society. For instance, the case of Fatima, a 12 years old was giving away for marriage by her father Idris Ali to a 65year old man. Fatima’s marriage is prohibited under the Nigerian Child rights Act, which bans marriage before the age of 18, but the federal laws are at loggerheads with age old customs, as well as the implementation of Sharia law or Islamic law in some Muslim states.

The punch newspaper was founded by two friends, James Aboderin, an accountant and Sam Amuka, a columnist and editor in the Daily times. Sam Amuka became the first editor of Sunday punch. In November 1976, a few years after the first print is Sunday edition, the due started printing their trademark daily newspaper. Both editions were designed to favour a friendlier political approach to news. The paper sustains itself by delving into broadcast issues that interest myriad people. Aboderin and Amuka parted ways due to partly to political conflict. Aboderin later secured the support of his former foe, MKO Abiola, after the NPN. The paper began to take on a political stance, mostly against the Shagari regime. The Punch Newspaper from www.NetFind.com

The Guardian newspaper was established in 1983 by Alex Ibru, an entrepreneur and Stanley Macebuh, a top journalist with the daily times newspapers. The guardian is an independent daily newspaper daily published in Lagos, Nigeria by guardian newspaper limited. The newspaper was pioneer in introducing high quality journalism to Nigeria, with thoughtful editorial content. It started daily publication on 4 July, 1983. The guardian has been described as Nigeria’s most respected newspaper. The Guardian Newspaper https://guardian.ng

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