Divorce rates are rising. According to a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2019, the country recorded an average of 0.5 divorce cases per 1000 population between 2014 and 2016. However, this increased to 1.1 cases per 1000 population between 2017 and 2018.
Is Nigeria’s Rising Divorce Rates Linked to Increased Access to Education and Economic Empowerment for Women?
There are several studies that suggest a link between rising divorce rates and increased access to education and economic empowerment for women in Nigeria. For example, a study by the African Journal of Reproductive Health found that Nigerian women who had higher levels of education were more likely to seek divorce when faced with marital problems. Additionally, a study by the World Bank found that Nigerian women who were economically empowered were more likely to leave abusive relationships and seek divorce.
Another study by the International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology found that the rise in divorce rates in Nigeria can be attributed to changing gender roles and the increasing participation of women in the labor force. As more women gain financial independence and education, they are less likely to tolerate abusive or unfulfilling marriages.
While these studies do suggest a correlation between increased access to education and economic empowerment for women and rising divorce rates in Nigeria, it is important to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation.
When a correlation between two variables is observed, it means that there is a statistical relationship between them. However, this correlation does not necessarily imply a causal relationship between the two variables. It could be that other factors or variables are influencing the observed correlation.
In the case of divorce rates and women’s education and empowerment, it could be that other factors such as changes in societal attitudes, economic conditions, or cultural values are also contributing to the rise in divorce rates. It is also possible that the relationship between divorce rates and women’s education and empowerment is not a direct causal relationship but rather a complex, multi-faceted one with many contributing factors. Therefore, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between these variables.
MzAgams 