How To Be Happy And Successful in Marriage - How Marriage Is Done In Nigeria

 











What is Marriage?

According to encyclopedia, Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a socially or ritually recognized union or legal contract between spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them, between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws.

In a layman’s English, Marriage can be simply defined as a legal relationship between husband and wife.

There are different types of marriage or different ways of joining couples together; it could be through the court, church, Islamic or the traditional processes or methods.

Types of Marriage in Nigeria

There are three stages of marriage in Nigeria, these are:

Traditional Marriage

Registry Marriage

Church or Mosque Marriage

How Marriage is Done In Nigeria

In most parts of Nigeria, traditional weddings always precede other marital processes. The traditional marriage is done in accordance of the tradition of the intending bride first, before any of the others; be it in court, church or according to the Islamic injunctions. 

In Yoruba land, the traditional marriage is usually done on a day like Friday where the two families are formally introduced to themselves. The required traditional items, including the bride price brought by the groom’s family are accepted during the proceedings by the bride’s family at this occasion.

Signing of paper then follows on a Saturday. Some even end it up at the traditional level but because it does not involve signing of documents, some couples believe they still have to add any of the other three in order to have a certificate or proof for reference purposes and legality of the marriage.

The court marriage is usually conducted by a court registrar and conducted at the registry of the local government council nearest to the couple or preferred by the couple.

The church wedding is for Christians; it is conducted in the church and the priest, as the officiating minister would equally sign as a witness.

The Islamic wedding is for Muslims and it is conducted in the bride’s house and usually officiated by the chief imam or an imam where wedding fatiha are said. All the certificates issued by the three are of equal value and recognized by the law.

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