Date: 2016-09-24

An Ilorin Area Court Judge, Mr Abdulquadri Ibrahim, has advised intending couples to know their partners well before entering into marriage to reduce the rate of divorce.

Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Friday that many couples did not engage in enough courtship before marriage. He said that lack of understanding of their partners before marriage had made some couples to quit marriage after observing some behaviour of their spouses.

"They are supposed to know each other long enough before contracting marriage. "Most people don't prepare for marriage; they prepare for wedding, which is ceremonial.

"Don't marry because of pressure or simply because you feel it is necessary to marry," he urged. Ibrahim said that marriage required understanding and endurance on the part of both partners.

He said that lack of understanding and endurance also contributed to divorce.

Ibrahim urged couples to set goals for their unions and make sacrifices for the success of their marriages.

"Couples must endure challenges to keep their marriage," he added. The judge advised would-be husbands and wives to ensure love for their partners before saying "I do".