In most Nigeria’s institutions certain students of opposite sex live together without any form of recognition by formal institutions. Such arrangement is called “Cohabiting” or “Campus marriage”.
Cohabiting is simply an act involving two members of opposite sex living together in an intimate relationship without being legally married.
However, this act has gradually eroded the near absent level of morality among Nigerian students in tertiary institutions which in most cases do not lead to marriage but rather end up in heartbreak.
Majority of Nigerian students have unrealistic reasons for engaging in such an act, some say it is as a result of selfishness, parents’ failure to teach moral truth about sexuality and marriage, while some said it is attributed to self freedom, lack of accommodation and financial instability and for some others, the zeal to experience married life.
Despite the reasons attached to it, the resultant effect has shown that most students who indulge in cohabiting are faced with situations like unwanted pregnancies, some are faced with Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), while some end up in abortion which sometimes lead to death, infertility, damaged uterus or fibroid.
The act is considered immoral by the prominent religions in Nigeria, and it is considered as an abomination before God.
Students are admonished not to engage in cohabiting because it is not advantageous and beneficiary instead it has disadvantages penalties paid for when practicing it.
Bello Bilkisu Abiola, Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger state