Cohabitation: An uncultured practice among students

The level of youths indulging in cohabitation in the tertiary institutions is multiplying on daily basis. Many call it campus marriage. There are few reasons why many youths partake in such practices, and reports have showed that it has contributed to the high level of school dropouts and rustications among tertiary school students.   Over […]

The level of youths indulging in cohabitation in the tertiary institutions is multiplying on daily basis. Many call it campus marriage. There are few reasons why many youths partake in such practices, and reports have showed that it has contributed to the high level of school dropouts and rustications among tertiary school students.  

Over the years, it has generally been observed, that cohabitation does not only  happen among students at the tertiary educational levels, but is rampant among people living in urban areas. The main reason for cohabitation among the opposite genders, generally, is the inability to afford accommodation. Some, may not necessarily have intimate relationship with each other, before staying together, but may end up indulging in romantic, and sexual act in the process of trying to secure accommodation.  

Cohabitation simply means living in same apartment with an opposite gender, indulging in sexual activities, without being joined as husband and wife traditionally, religiously or legally. This is a practice that is uncalled for, but young men term it as a normal practice. Traditionally, this practice is forbidden and also an abomination, and religiously it is called fornication, while it is not legally recognised.  

There’s need for both the community, and institutions to start a movement against such practices. Today it is observed that the rate of broken home has increased.  Study has proved that most of the youths indulging in prostitution and some criminal activities, come from broken homes.  

It is quite unfortunate for a young man or lady who was sent to study to end up living with an opposite gender, like husband and wife. This behaviour has turned many young girls into young mothers and dropouts and has resulted in parents been affected by hypertension.   

Students should be responsible, and act decently  and be contended with what is given to them by their parents.  Parents too should try as much as possible to provide for their children  to encourage them to be better leaders of tomorrow. 

We need good leaders, we need a generation free from moral vices and criminal activities. We need a nation that is free from immorality.   

Josiah Yakubu Yaksport wrote from the Nigerian Army University Biu, Borno State