The increase in the number of undergraduate students and the
inability of the school authorities to provide adequate hostel accommodation
has led to cohabitation among undergraduate students of some public
universities.
In university campuses across Nigeria,it is a common
phenomenon for male and female students to rent off-campus apartments just for comfort
and for ‘privacy’ as one of my friends
would say.
Living in those houses alone is now a thing of the past as
some students want to experience marital life before leaving campus and to get
married proper.
This led to the ‘undergraduate Di naNwanyi’ which means a
male and female student living in their rented apartment .This ‘couple life’
makes the male student assume the role of the husband and the female-wife.
It is expected for students in tertiary institutions to know
their left from their right.To this end,they have the freedom to make
self-decisions that has to do with their feelings and emotions,and maybe their
lives in general.
About 15% of some students in Nigerian tertiary institutions
sponsor themselves,while about 85% are sponsored by parents or guardians.These
parents should mount surveillance to monitor and check their ward’s exuberant
actions and decisions.
Cohabitation seems to be a very popular but worrisome concept
in our institutions today.The male and female students renting and residing in
the same apartment as though they were married.They do all sort of domestic
activities together such as bathing,cooking,taking joint decisions,sleeping and
in most cases operate a joint account.
Some have given a smattering justification for this couple’s
life on campus expressing that it helps to pool resources such as food stuffs
and money together from the wealthy partners
to enable them make ends meet in school. Others said that cohabitation
helps them gain experience on how to handle marital life,check infidelity,aid
intimacy and cement the relationship subject to formal approval by their
parents.
The argument above may not in any way stand to verify
cohabiting by campus lovers.In Nigeria,such practice is culturally and
religiously unacceptable as it is contrary to the concept of marital rites and
blessings.
Cohabitation is mostly practiced by premature and ineligible
persons and in some cases,are unprepared for long-lasting union.Common
deception!Without incertitude,cohabitation is a lead-way to sexual interaction
of premarital sex which can lead to early or unwanted pregnancy.
Sure enough is the fact that,not needed pregnancy is the
staircase to abortion domain.Abortion is the sliding route to death or organ
damages which may in many cases result to barrenness.
According to Miss Tricia Igbe,a student of the Delta State
Polytechnic,Ozoro,”It is biblically and morally wrong.It leads to unwanted
pregnancy,abortion,infections and emotional trauma especially for ladies who
may suddenly be jilted by the man involved.”She further opined that ladies are
always the worst hit whenever such relationship hits the rock”.
Cohabitation on campus also affects the academic performance
of those involved.The campus girl who has been saddled with the burden of cooking
for his campus husband, washing all his clothes and other unwanted matrimonial
functions may not be at her best in academics.
It is alarming that most students spend their school fees to
carter for their so-called school husband or wife,and end up spending extra
year in school.
Our society is really sick courtesy of those living in
it.These students collect house rents from unsuspecting (and
sometimes,struggling) parents and end up cohabiting.
In summary, before you agree to move in and live with a guy
on campus,consider the reason why you are in school in the first place.What
image would you be creating about yourself?Can this guy marry you in case he
impregnates you or would you resort to series of abortions like many other
girls before you?What advice will you give your children in future concerning
this kind of things?After school what next?Will the relationship lead you
anywhere?
Yes,this part is now referring to the females.I didn’t plan
it that way.Maybe it is because they are the worst hit by the grave
consequences of illicit sexual relationships.They are the ones that turn out to
be the sore losers in the end.They call it school life but they don’t realize
how idiotic they have been till it is too late.
It is a pure ‘misplacement of purpose’ if you think that the
reason why you are in school is to get the husband-and-wife experience,to see
what it feels like for the guy to provide the money for food and for the girl
to go to the market for food stuffs and cook.
It is true that your admission has given you unlimited
freedom.It is true that your parents are not there to caution you.But what
about giving your womanhood respect and protecting your dignity?What about
living in such a way as to have a positive story to tell the next
generation(including your children)without a prick of conscience?
In conclusion,for parents who shake their heads to pity those
who cohabit whenever they read articles like this,a smart surveillance may
reveal to them that their own innocent and sober looking wards also engage in
this practice.Hence,there is an urgent need for parents,stakeholders et alia to
mount a campaign against campus lover’s cohabitation.It is really doing more
harm than good to the lives of those involved.
This practice must be admonished.
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