What are your thoughts on having children out of wedlock or not?
Chudy Ogobegwu, Heirs Insurance Limited
Personally I don’t support premarital pregnancy and I won’t advise anyone to get pregnant outside marriage. Basically because I believe sex, and the resulting possible pregnancies, should be confined to marriage (I’m Christian). That being said, I also don’t believe it should carry a stigma. He who is without sin can throw the first stone… and that person is definitely not me).
Olamide Malik, Heirs Holdings
I personally do not support having a child outside wedlock for 3 reasons. In an ideal situation, a man and a women should be responsible to raising a child within a stable family setting. This directly or indirectly has an impact on the way the child turns out in terms of values, character building and outlook to life. There is financial strain on the woman who has to raise her child as a single mum. Whether you like it or not, the women has to hustle more as a single mum unless she has financial inheritances she can rely on to raise her child. It makes a mockery of the Institution of Marriage which promotes raising a child within the defined components of a family unit.
On the flip side, women sometimes find themselves in situations beyond their control leading them to have children outside wedlock. If you ever find yourself in this situation, my recommendation will be to:
- Make plans to raise your child by saving for their education, health requirements and feeding until adulthood
- Have a trust fund to support them until they become independent
- Rely on support from immediate family members if you are experiencing financial hardship.
