PUNCH
It’s no longer news that several marriageable young men and women have continued to roam the streets of our cities in search of suitable life partners, yet they remain single.
Arewa PUNCH findings reveal that often times, this situation has been attributed to the poor state of the economic situation of the country whereby many graduates can not get jobs to feed themselves, let alone of feeding an extra mouth.
In some cases where some young men are privileged to find a “sort of job” to manage, the willingness to make adjustments to accommodate an extra person in their life has become difficult and almost unbearable due to societal demands of an elaborate traditional marriage ceremony with its associated flamboyance.
In Benue State, Arewa PUNCH investigations has further revealed that unlike the old tradition whereby families charge as much as a million naira for the bride price of their beautiful daughters, especially, if the lady is a higher school graduate, the situation may no longer be the same.
Our correspondent learnt that this desire of usually the bride’s parents to collect exorbitant bride price and push for weddings which reek of opulence and grandeur, according to Freddie Adamgbe had made many marriageable young people to remain unmarried.
To reverse this development, the paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv, His Imperial Majesty, Professor James Ayatse, in a surprise move, announced the slashing of total expenses surrounding traditional marriage among Tiv parents to N100,000 or less.
Arewa PUNCH further findings indicate that the announcement was received with joy and open arms by the mighty and lowly in Tivland as they unuanimously insist that they were of the belief that it would not only restore the tradition of the ethnic group but also pave the way for the low class people in the society muster the courage and willingness to get married.
