Attraction between the opposite sexes drives them to do many things, one of which is cohabitation. Though not traditionally an African practice and often considered abominable, it has become more common in higher institutions across the country. In this report, PETER OKOYE, a 200-level student of mass communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) examines the practice and associated dangers for students.

The issue of cohabitation on campuses is one that cannot be overlooked. It has been practiced for so long that it has now become a “normal thing.”

There is hardly any tertiary institution around the globe where cohabitation does not exist, given that the majority of the population in these institutions are youths who are not under the surveillance of parents or sponsors.

About 71% of students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions are estimated cohabiting with the opposite sex in school.

The Oxford Advanced Dictionary states that cohabitation is when a man and a woman live together and have a sexual relationship without being married.

A SEARCH FOR THE WHY

One would wonder why this issue of cohabitation is prevalent in tertiary institutions. The obvious factors that lure students into cohabitation include financial constraints, the need for academic assistance, lack of proper parental upbringing, disregard for African norms and culture, youthful curiosity, and peer pressure.

Students in tertiary institutions are within the youthful age bracket of 17-24. At this age, there is a tendency for most of them, who are outside the purview of their parents or guardians, to “explore life” and try many things.

Many would refuse to tag cohabitation as a menace. Logically, they are not to blame as financial constraints are a major factor that promotes cohabitation.

Female students, due to the paucity of finances in school, are pressured to live with their male counterparts and perform duties as a wife to him, including satisfying his sexual urges. The male, in reciprocity, is expected to meet the financial needs of the female student, which includes paying her school and tuition fees, buying textbooks, provisions, and other necessary items.

The male party in this aspect might be a student or a single or married working-class man living within or outside the school environs.

In the case of a non-student, female students, especially those living in the hostels, are pressured to move out of the hostel and live with such a man.

Students living outside the campus are the ones who mostly engage in cohabitation and are affected the most. They are also forced to cohabit in order to cut costs related to their accommodation. These students are compelled to live together and share the rent with their “partners”.

WHAT THERE IS TO LOSE

A greater percentage of students often disagree that cohabitation increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancies, and abortions, but that is far from the truth and is a misconception given the adverse effects of cohabitation in the long run.

Read more: https://crispng.com/single-at-home-married-in-school-concerns-over-cohabitation-in-nigerias-tertiary-institution/

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Whoever penned this article in 2015 should have copyrighted it. By now, he for don make at least 300K from the number of times I’ve come across it since then.

eepeepook:
Whoever penned this article in 2015 should have copyrighted it. By now, he for don make at least 300K from the number of times I’ve come across it since then.

Nigerians do not respect copyright laws so whether copyrighted it or not they will just be plagiarising it with reckless abandon