EDEGBE VICTORIA

This study was carried out to examine married women and their migrant husbands in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Marriage is an institution very strategic to human society and in African contexts, families are involved in marital processes. Married women with migrant husbands go through series of challenges. The objectives of the study are to examine the nature of the ties between the home based spouse and her resident inlaw, to identify the coping mechanisms of the home based spouse and to ascertain the consequences of the absence of the migrant breadwinner on the home based family. The study covered Benin City and the functionalist theory was adopted for the study. The study drew sample from the population of Oredo local government area. A 100% response rate was obtained from the questionnaires that was administered. The survey method of data collection was applied in the study because it is only the method best suited for the collection of data from a sample of a chosen population of any study, which was applicable in the study. The findings from this study shows most of the respondents know what migration is, this is because their husbands are migrants. The study reveals that the main cause of husbands migrating is to seek greener pastures. This study also shows that the migration of husbands has some consequences on their resident wives. The study recommends that the government should implement that the government should develop and implement policies that will specifically address the unique needs of married women with migrant husbands. It also recommends that NGOs should establish networks and community based programs to assist married women with migrant husbands. Lastly, the government should offer educational opportunities and skill development programs for married women with migrant husbands.