Interesting take, Oluifadante. In as much as you have outlined several factors that may make such marital contract go awry, I wish to point out that Nigeria is also signatory to CEDAW 1992 agreement on violence against women and rights of the girl child. The unfortunate thing is that our legal system is shrouded in traditional laws and secrets.
That said, why would a man marry a woman he is not in love with, especially, with his exposure to western culture and rules on intimacy, and he expects a candlelight romance? This situation is age-old and affects women as does men. Have you also considered the inability of the man, considering the age differences? His violation of her rights in the light of looking for a partner he can suppress? If he was man enough, after 40, I expected he should look for a matured woman within his age bracket not one in her twilight and who is easily swayed by the dazzling attractions of Europe.
Well if you must know, this situation is not peculiar to Nigerians in Europe. You find such in Lagos, Abuja, everywhere back home in the metropolitan and even in the village. The important issues to note are the following that can cause such situation that we described:1. Age difference, 2. Educational/experience gap, 3. Economic power, 4. Exposure (late experience of social life is example)- many men delude themselves that an inexperienced woman makes a better wife. There are so many cases of marital betrayal even on my street in Lagos for real.
5. Culture shock and influence, 6. Family expectations (really this situation is so common among the ibos, however, infidelity has no tribe or gender or boundary). 7. Relationship between the couple/agreement, etc.
Note again, it is not new and will not end with this consciousness, it has also become a cultural thing and it is the same in every metropolitan city in Nigeria.
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