CHAPTER ONE
1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Marriage is the oldest institution in the world it was instituted by God Himself in the Garden of Eden.  Marriage was not the idea of any man. It was the original idea of God Almighty. God felt the need for marriage and instituted it “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him” Genesis chapter 2 verse 18.
Since then man and woman alike have always tried to live in companion of each other because they are created social being.
Marriage can also be define as a union between a man and a woman to become husband and wife with the above definition.
Marriage is meant for mature man and woman and not for boys and girls because they can not yet cope with the challenges of marital life. Early marriage therefore is define as a union of a boy and a girl and a man to become husband and wife below the age of 18 years.
In the light of this study, when a girl below the age of 18, engages herself in marriage it is referred to as “Early Marriage”.
Finally to correct this social problem among this group of people is the reason why this study becomes important.
1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The incident of early marriage in recent time has been on the increase in Nigeria despite all the enlightenment, campaigns and awareness through formal and informal education.
In Lagos State for instance, where almost all the ethic groups in Nigeria is represented, it is a common thing to see young girls with their children on their backs hawking different ware in the neighbourhood. Some have become more or less baby factories. There are still others who are maltreated and restricted by their husbands from selling or doing any types of work that can fetch them money.
They are totally dependent on their husbands and as a result of which they become unproductive. Also most of them feel like second class citizen because their educational background is nothing to write home about. They cannot express themselves in the public and as a result cannot sit in where other are: