The recent announcement by popular musician, Tuface Idibia, that he is getting a divorce from his wife Anne, has brought the conversation about divorce back to prominence. There is a growing divorce rate in Nigerian marriages which has its effects on society.
Globally, there has been an alarming increase in divorce rates. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries defines divorce as the legal ending of a marriage.
A report from divorce.com shows that out of 26 countries, Nigeria has the 11th highest divorce rate, and the report showed that women in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria, are more actively involved in filing for divorce compared to men. The report claimed that Nigeria’s divorce rate reached 2.9 per cent in 2023 based on available data on marriage and divorce, which translates to 1.8 per cent divorces per 1,000 people in the same year.
Of the countries with the highest divorce rate, Maldives tops the list with 5.52 percent of divorce cases while India has the lowest rate at 0.01 percent.
Map of Nigeria
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Factors Contributing to Divorce
Research shows that some of the factors fueling divorces include lack of trust, infidelity, domestic violence, communication problems, lack of commitment, financial problems, substance abuse, intimacy issues, constant arguing and incompatibility.
Gyong said, “Many of these young ones just marry to satisfy their sexual desires. They are crazy in love at first, and once they get married after a few months, they get tired and bored because they have got what they wanted. They don’t think things through to see if they are ready for marriage, can adequately provide for the home and love this person through thick and thin, before venturing into marriage. It’s only a matter of time before such a home breaks apart.
He said, “I can authoritatively say that in the last three years post-COVID, the court system has seen a significant increase in divorce cases when referring to cases registered in court. There has definitely been an increase in recent times; it’s been more noticeably and unusually on the rise since 2020.
“Lack of patience and perseverance has led to a rise in divorce cases. The youth are not ready to persevere with one another and marriage takes a lot of these with endurance. The two people that make a union are brought up by different parents; they have different views on life and in some cases different religions, so if the other party is exhibiting traits you do not like, you can’t expect that person to change overnight or expect to start seeing changes immediately when it took that individual over 20 to 30 years to become who he or she is. Where there is no endurance and understanding, issues that ordinarily are not supposed to cause problems will blow up and become very huge.
“Dissolution of marriage is not really about how many years one has been in marriage. Once the parties decide that they no longer want to stay married, they petition that their marriage be dissolved, no matter how long they have been married. You cannot force an unwilling spouse on another person.
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There are several persons with different ideologies on what marriage should be about. Find a partner who believes what you believe about marriage and work together. Be prayerful and take your time to know your partner. Indeed, one cannot entirely know a person. Some couples are enjoying their marriages. Be positive that your marriage will be among the blissful ones. As a single person, develop yourself and be ready to give to your marriage as much as you would love to receive.
However, India has the lowest divorce rates because marriage is highly valued, and divorce has historically been stigmatised, which has created intense social pressure to maintain the marriage, even in the face of difficulties.
Understanding the Impact of Divorce on Children: Emotional, Psychological, and Social Consequences
Regional Trends in Marriage and Divorce
While the report shows that most women are the initiators of divorce, UN data revealed that West Africa, Eastern Africa, and Middle Africa have decreased the number of married women in unions across the globe.
West Africa experienced the largest decline in the number of married women, with a 5% decrease over ten years from 2010 to 2020. Middle Africa and Eastern Africa followed, with a 3.3% decrease in the share of married women in Eastern Africa and a 3.2% decline in Middle Africa.
On the other hand, Northern Africa and Eastern Asia are the only regions that had an increase in the share of women who are married from 2010 to 2020.
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Impact on Children and Spouses
Studies reveal that divorce can lead to all sorts of psychological and behavioural problems in children. It can cause them to have relational issues with their parents, siblings, and others due to their fear of abandonment. Also, divorce can be detrimental to the health of separated spouses.
An increasing number of children across the world experience family instability due to divorce/separation and the consequences of non‐marital childbearing/cohabitation. It can be a difficult time for a family. Not only are the parents realizing new ways of relating to each other, but they are learning new ways to parent their children. When parents divorce, the effects of divorce on children can vary. Some children react to divorce in a natural and understanding way, while other children may struggle with the transition.
 Impact of Divorce on Children
Strengthening Marriages: Solutions and Recommendations
However, there are ways couples can make their marriage stronger instead of opting for divorce as proffering solutions will make their marriage even stronger.
First, seeking marriage counseling is proven to improve physical and emotional intimacy, increase communication, and establish an overall better connection between spouses, which enables couples to find divorce solutions. Also, every couple should take accountability seriously. It is advisable to look out for some other married couples who can help to hold you accountable as well.
Everyone needs friends and mentors who can serve as a support system, and this is especially the case when it comes to married people. Sometimes, couples see divorce as their only solution because they don’t have others around them to remind them that there are other solutions to divorce, ones that usually prove to be far better.
Divorce Rates in Selected Countries (2023) | Country | Divorce Rate (%) |
| Maldives | 5.52 |
| Nigeria | 2.9 |
| India | 0.01 |
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