The moral implication of co-habitation among students of the University Of Nigeria, Nsukka, South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Living together before marriage known as cohabitation is a phenomenon that is developing rapidly in today's society. Cohabitation and premarital sex are trending lifestyle among the youths in Nigeria. In recent times, cohabitation has become very common among students of higher institutions of learning. This study examines and analyzes the moral implication of cohabitation among students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, South-Eastern Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed method approach. Data was generated with semi-structured interview and questionnaire respectively and the findings were analyzed based on content and SPSS. It was found that cohabitation as a phenomenon is overwhelmingly popular among undergraduates as well as one of the major contributors to moral degeneration in the country. The study is informed by the premarital sex experimentation, unwanted pregnancies, incessant cases of abortion, having unprepared family life and involvement in internet fraud. Morality culminates in campus cohabitation, participation in cultism, illegal drug use and alcohol abuse. Thus, this phenomenon is one of the major contributors to moral degeneration in the country. This study proffers some majors to curb this menace.