Age is just a number

Marriage is good and it was instituted by God for the benefits of mankind with so many purposes such as procreation, intimacy, companionship, etc, and because man should not be alone, and he gave a helpmate. So, upon seeing a topic like this, I already know that people will have their own opinions because we see marriage differently. Therefore, should there be an age bracket for marriage?

Growing up, I remember a neighbor who married in her early twenties to a man in his mid-forties. It became the entire street's story because everyone wanted to say something negative about the age difference. Some people said she was lucky to have found a mature husband who could provide, while others whispered that she had married her father’s age mate. As a curious teenager, I wondered: Should there be a limit? Should people only be allowed to marry within a certain age range? My cousin also married a man who's 20 years older than her and today, they are still living happily. I also have a cousin who married someone of her age, and the marriage has gone its separate ways because of one issue or another.

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**Can you imagine a rule that says, you can only marry someone within your age bracket?

In Nigeria today, people don't do age brackets; they marry whoever they want to marry as long as there's peace. Love is unpredictable. Some couples thrive with a two-year difference, others with twenty. Numbers alone don’t determine happiness. What truly matters is mutual respect, maturity, and consent. Instead of drawing hard lines on how many years apart people can be, society should focus on preventing exploitation and ensuring that marriage is always a free and informed choice. Titilope, a friend, married someone she's two years older than, and their marriage is growing peacefully with adorable kids.

Culturally, in many places, men marrying younger women is a common practice, young people are pressured into marrying older partners who might have more power or control in the relationship. Immediately a girl child is born, an older man would come as a suitor to pay brideprice and wait till the child is 12years. This is a common practice in the Northern part. While in some places, a woman older cannot marry a younger man. If we continue to be rigid, it would clash with tradition and cause more backlash than harmony.

Couples must remain within the same age bracket. Will this be an acceptable rule?

Two people closer in age are more likely to share common interests, goals, and even health concerns, which could make navigating life together easier. As long as both partners are adults who understand the responsibilities of marriage, the age gap should be their decision. While it might help curb child marriages or unions where minors are paired with much older adults. It should be allowed for individuals to make a choice.

Will this only lead to chaos?

Yes, people could start lying about their age just to marry legally, and it would also unfairly punish genuine adult relationships.

Age is just a number where choices are👌

Entry to the #hivelearners contest 3 on the topic: Marriagable age

The image is sourced.