PERCEIVED CAUSES AND SOLUTION OF DIVORCE AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN KANO CITY. EFFECTS FOR MARITAL COUNSELLING  

ABSTRACT

The study sought to find out “Perceived Causes and Remedies of Divorce among Married Couples in Kano Metropolis”. Population for this study consists of some selected married couples within the Kano metropolis. The population of the study mainly couples still in marriage were selected in the area totalling 1195. Eleven (11) quarters were selected from each of the three (3) local government areas of Kano metropolis through cluster sampling. To maintain justice from the target population of married couple, 20% each cohort was selected using simple random sampling technique. This is in line with Cruises (2001) who observed that the sample of any given research can be ten percent (10%) or 20% of the population. The total sample was therefore two hundred and thirty nine. A structured questionnaire tagged Couples Perceived Causes and Remedies of Divorce Questionnaire (CPCRDQ) designed by the researcher was used for study. The researcher adaptedmaterials fromOnwuosanya (2009). The descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentage was used to analyse and interpret the results of the research questions while Null hypothesis 1 and 4 were tested using the Mann-Whitney test statistics to determine presence or presence of significant differences between male and female respondents. While null hypotheses 2, 3, 5 and 6 were tested using the chi- square. All hypotheses are tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. It was found that the couples differ in their perception of the causes of divorce (z = 4.22, p = 0.00); The married males differ in their perception of the causes of divorce (X² = 157.036, p = 0.001 );  The married females differ in their perception of the causes of divorce (X² = 101.022, p =0.001) ; The couples differ in their perception of the remedies of divorce  (z = 4.86, p = 0.00); The married males differ in their perception of the remedies for divorce (X² = 59.210, p = 0.003); and The married females differ in their perception on remedies for divorce (X² = 94.714 p = 0.002). recommendations includes there is an obvious need for pre-marital counselling for young men and women in our society to prepare their minds adequately for marriage and the counsellors should utilize the mass media such as television in the creation of awareness.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1       Background to the study

In the African tradition, there is strong belief that unless a person is married he/she is not regarded as responsible or worthy of honour. Marriage is a rite which affirms love; provide a source of social recognition which serves as a gate way to legal procreation, responsibilities and mutual benefits. Marriage is therefore, a sacred and permanent contract which is assumed to be enacted when two people; man and woman, decided to be together for life as companions in the present of at least two or more witnesses to exchange the formal consent to live a life of love and caring for each other, for the purpose of promoting their mutual growth and welfare as person in their journey together through life.

Religious and socio-cultural beliefs consider the matrimonial home as sacred as such marriage is expected to be “for life” hence ultimate satisfaction is expected to be found in marriage. Abubakar (2009) cited Lonial (2004) noting that factors like education, environment and social values shows the tendency for marriage people to deviate significantly. Latid et al (2002) are of the opinion that conflicts are bound to emanate from the marriage relationship since it involves Human beings who have come from various cultural backgrounds and have different individual and societal values. He further stated that the sum of the couples’ reactions to their marital problems will ultimately determine the survival of their marriage or its failure

Unstable marriage; According to Onwuosanya(2009) are characterized by lack of love, dishonesty, lack of positive communication, lack of care and home management. There is a lot of chaos, pride and irrational thinking. These; he said, have been the source of emotional problem, especially for the wives and children It occurs where the element that promote marital fulfillment are absent. These include love, respect, effective communication, understanding, endurance, patient and tolerance. Relationships are all about give and take, and to maintain them people must be willing to do the work. Today dissolution of marriage is being used as the easy way out when couples can no longer agree. Although people tend to think carefully before they get marriage, the rate of divorce continuously rise nowadays.

From the past to present, people all over the world have determined to live together, which is called marriage, so that they can depend on each other. Though, as a result of so many factors, some couples are unable to maintain their relationship; therefore they choose divorce, which is one of the solutions to cope with problems between husband and wife. Most people think carefully before they get married. However, the divorce rates trend to continually increase lately. It might be argued that divorces can be taken easier than the past. There are three main causes of divorce: The first significant cause of recent rise in the rates of divorce is that women completely change their roles. In the past, men have to earn the money to afford the expense of family, whereas woman only does housework, women have no money which leads them to depend on their husband’s money. Because of these situations, it is too difficult for most women to separate from their husbands. None the less, these situations have entirely changed. The equality between men and women in roles are very clear at the moment, the women can work outside to earn money, while men share the household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing as well as caring for children. It can be clearly seen that women are independent from money as they can earn money by themselves to support their living cost; hence could contemplate divorce at the slightest provocation. Another cause to confirm the recent increase in divorce rates is stress in modern living. Many people, who live in globalization, have considerable pressures to earn money. Since money is never enough and some couples cannot effectively manage their finances, tension sets in hence the next consideration is divorce.

                1.2.        Statement of the Problem

Kano township; as in other typical Hausa setting, is saturated with young woman who are not in their matrimonial homes. It is very difficult to differentiate those who were once married and those who were not, as most of the divorces are very young. This shows the high rate of divorce in the area, couples in the area hardly stay to celebrate the second anniversary of their marriages. A casual visit to customary courts show an average of two divorce cases per day. According to Kano state government figures, the state has the highest divorce rate in Nigeria and quite possibly one of the highest rates in the world, with a staggering 80% of marriages reportedly collapsing. While the NGO, Voice of Divorcées and Widows Association of Nigeria (VOWAN) estimates incredibly, that there are one million divorcees and widows in the state!

This widespread marital failure leaves a string of broken homes and a gradual breakdown of the family unit which according to government officials forms the foundation of societal ills as children from these circumstances, become susceptible to social vices such as prostitution, begging and drug abuse. The women with little or no formal education and skills become dependent on family members, vulnerable (to social vices) and in rare cases, even stigmatized. It is in recognition of this crisis that the Kano state government via the Hisbah board (Shariah implementation agency) in conjunction with the NGO, VOWAN headed by HajiyaAltineAbdullahi, a divorcée herself, came up with the mass marriage scheme to address this social malaise. On Tuesday 15^th May, 2012 Nigeria witnessed its first mass wedding in the Northern city of Kano when 100 couples were married off by the Kano state government under a programme to address the high rate of divorces in the state. The Kano State Hisbah Board also gave out 1,111 persons in marriage on 19^th December 2013. the event, the fourth of its kind since May 2012, So far, officials say 4,461 couples have been married enmasse.

The inability of people to get married, the state government argued, could result in security threats. The state was of the view that the propensity to turn to crime or other social vices will be reduced if they are married and have family responsibilities. The state Governor

EngrRabiuKwankwaaso who described the event as unprecedented in the history of the West African sub-region, further stressed that the marriage programme was initiated to help people strengthen the family institution and halt social crimes in the society, most of which were as a result of erosion of family values.

Most parents now; due to love for material wealth, abandon their primary responsibility of inculcating positive values in their children, this has led to decreasing moral values, as such; according to Onwuasonya (2009), many people entire marriage with unrealistic expectations, again many marry the wrong person for wrong reasons, also marriage is very difficult type of relationship even if one chooses a partner wisely. Furthermore, little time or effort is put into developing the relationship skill needed to maintain a stable marriage.

Despite efforts by religious leaders and significant others of creating harmonious living relationship in marriage, the incidence of marital conflict still exist. The aim of this study is to find out the perceived causes and remedies of divorce among married couples in Kano metropolis

                1.3          Objectives of the Study

This study was designed to identify the:

1. Causes of divorce as perceived by married couples in Kano Metropolis
2. Causes of divorce as perceived by married males in Kano metropolis.
3. Causes of divorce as perceived by married females in Kano Metropolis 4. Remedies for divorce as perceived by married couples in Kano Metropolis
4. Remedies for divorce as perceived by married males in Kano metropolis.
5. Remedies for divorce as perceived by married females in Kano Metropolis

                1.4         Research Question

The following research questions guided the study

1. What are the Causes of divorce as perceived by married couples in Kano Metropolis?
2. What are the Causes of divorce as perceived by married males in Kano metropolis?
3. What are the Causes of divorce as perceived by married females in Kano Metropolis?
4. What are the Remedies for divorce as perceived by married couples in Kano

Metropolis?

5. What are the Remedies for divorce as perceived by married males in Kano metropolis?
6. What are the Remedies for divorce as perceived by married females in Kano

Metropolis?

                1.5         Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested in the study at 0.05 level of significance:

H0₁: There is no significant difference in theCauses of divorce as perceived by married couples in

Kano Metropolis

H0₂: There is no significant difference in the Causes of divorce as perceived by married males in

Kano metropolis.

H0₃: There is no significant difference in the Causes of divorce as perceived by married females in Kano Metropolis

H0₄: There is no significant difference in the Remedies for divorce as perceived by married couples in Kano Metropolis

H0₅: There is no significant difference in the Remedies for divorce as perceived by married males in Kano metropolis.

H0₆: There is no significant difference in the Remedies for divorce as perceived by married females in Kano Metropolis

                  1.6       Basic Assumptions

The following basic assumptions have been made:

1. Husband and wife will differ in their perception of the causes of divorce
2. The differences in perception could be as a result of differences in Age, Gender or Educational qualifications
3. Husband and wife may likely have similar perception to the causes of divorce.

                  1.7       Significance of the Study

This study is significant not only for the counsellors but also for the benefit of the Hausa society in Kano metropolis. The study will be of benefit to the married couples, divorcees, policy makers, unmarried ladies and boys. The result of the study will serve as pre-marital and post- marital guidance and counselling tool for couples. Reducing the rate of the divorce will be beneficial in forestalling the negative effects of divorce. The government and nongovernmental organizations will benefit from it as they make efforts to curtail the problems of divorce in Kano metropolis.

The significance of this work also is to find the solution of divorce and its remedy among couple of Kano metropolis particularly Hausa Community. The findings will be of importance to married couples by knowing the causes and remedy of divorce. It will be significant to the entire Hausa couple in Kano State as a tool to capture the remedy of rampant divorce. It is also important for the religious bodies to create the avenue of preaching and imparting the counselling prefectures on divorce among couples. The finding of this study will also useful to the researchers of similar work and relate to it as references. There is a justification for this study on the divorce as social problems whose effects can affect couple and academic progress of almost all students.

This study is expected therefore, to provide advice, suggestion, and contribution to married couples.  The role of Counselling cannot be over emphasized in reducing divorce problems among couples. Sometime couples needs training and regular practices. Couples also use wrong perception among themselves, such attitude indicate bad behaviour, wrong of way of interpretations, lack of feedback, and in appropriate method of cohabitation.

                1.8          Scope and Delimitation of the study

This research work covered issues of causes of divorce and its remedies among couples in Kano metropolis. The study investigated the menace of divorce among local government in Kano metropolis only. The scope of this research study is limited to Hausa couples, of Kano metropolis due to time factors and social constraints only three local governments out of Six (6) within the metropolis were selected to represent the whole population of the Kano Metropolis.

The local government are; Dala, Gwale and the Kano Municipal local government. The study is delimited to mrried couples who are Islamicallylegally married and living together as husband and wife.

The age, Educational qualification and occupation of the couples was analyzed in the study

PERCEIVED CAUSES AND SOLUTION OF DIVORCE AMONG MARRIED COUPLES IN KANO CITY. EFFECTS FOR MARITAL COUNSELLING  

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