Marriage

How to Get a Marriage Certificate or License in Nigeria?

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If you are planning a Nigerian wedding, the process to obtain a marriage certificate or perform a civil wedding in Nigeria can be confusing at times. We have put together a guide to help with the process to obtain your marriage certificate.

Eligibility Requirements

To marry under the marriage law of Nigeria:

  1. One person is a Nigerian or both people are Non-Nigerians living in Nigeria. When one person is non-Nigerian, it is considered a Special Marriage.
  2. Both people are at least 18 years old
  3. Both people are mentally competent and are consenting adults
  4. Both people are not legally married to other people
  5. Both people are not related, that is, have a prohibited degree of relationship with intended spouse. See Frequently asked questions below for more information.

Application Requirements

For Ordinary and Special Marriage

  • Government-issued birth certificate or declaration of age
  • Passport Photographs (2 each)
  • Indigene Letter/Letter of Identification from State of Origin (Nigerians only).
  • Sworn Affidavit of Bachelorhood / Spinsterhood from a Law Court or Bachelorhood / Spinsterhood Certificate (if bachelor or spinster).
  • Affidavit or valid proof of Marriage (if already married).
  • Proof of Divorce (Divorce Papers) – Decree 90 and Decree Absolute (if divorced).
  • Death certificate of Previous Husband or Wife (if a widow(er)).
  • Proof of Annulment from Court (if previous marriage was annulled).
  • Sworn Affidavit of Single status with Child/Children (if single with child/children).

Additional for Special Marriage

  • Data page of International Passport (if living abroad).
  • Arrival Passport Stamp Page (if living abroad).
  • Residence Permit (if living abroad).

Visit the Ministry of Interior eCitiBiz Portal for reference

Procedure

  1. You can apply in person or online. To complete the online application, visit the Ministry of Interior eCitiBiz Portal to setup an account, upload all required documents, pick a location and pay the fee.
  2. Visit the registry location and take the oath on the provided date. You can schedule your interview and oath dates to happen on the same day.
    1. You must bring:
      • at least one witness each on the wedding day
      • 2 wedding rings (male and female)
      • Bible or Quran depending on the situation
    2. You should wear:
      • Wedding Dresses and Suits
      • Native Attire
      • Corporate Ensemble
  3. After the oath or wedding ceremony, you will be notified when and how to collect the certificate or Form E.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ordinary and special marriage?

Ordinary marriage is one where both people are Nigerians while a special marriage is one where at least one person non-Nigerian.

What should you wear?

  • Wedding Dresses and Suits
  • Native Attire
  • Corporate Ensemble

Please note that short sleeves, shorts and jeans are not allowed. Also do not be late so you do not miss your time slot.

What is the cost?

Price ranges from N15,000 to N25,000. The cost differs for Ordinary and Special Marriage. Please visit the ministry of Interior’s page for certificate issuance fee details, livestreaming fee details and re-issuance fee details.

How long is the ceremony?

It is usually not more than 30 minutes?

When does the certificate expire?

The certificate or registration is valid unless the marriage is annulled.

What is the timeline?

Minimum of 21 days for Ordinary Marriage and 7 days for Special Marriage after application is submitted. You should factor this waiting period when planning dates or travel. The marriage should occur within 90 days to avoid paying the fee again.

What is prohibited for degree of relationship?

A man or woman must not marry his/her:

  • Mother/Father
  • Son/Daughter
  • Paternal Grandmother/Grandfather (Father’s mother or father)
  • Grandchild (Son/Daughter’s son or daughter)
  • Sibling (Brother or Sister)
  • Mother-in-law/Father-in-law (Wife/husband’s mother or father)
  • Grandmother-in-law/Grandfather-in-law (Wife’s father’s mother or wife’s mother’s mother or husband’s mother’s father)
  • Stepson/Stepdaughter (Wife/husband’s son or daughter)
  • Stepmother/Stepfather (Father’s wife or mother’s husband)
  • Step-grandmother/Step-grandfather (Father’s father wife or mother’s husband)
  • Son-in-law (daughter’s husband)
  • Grandson’s wife or Granddaughter’s husband (Son’s son’s wife or daughter’s daughter’s husband)
  • Aunt/Uncle (Father/mother’s sister or brother)
  • Niece/Nephew (Brother/sister’s son or daughter)

What are the locations?

The Ministry of Interior authorizes each Federal Marriage Registry to carry out different services including 1) the registry of ordinary and special marriages, and 2) issuance and re-issuance of secured marriage certificates. The Federal Marriage Registry exists in multiple locations including:

  • Lagos – Federal Marriage Registry, Kingsway Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
  • Abuja – 28, Borno Street Area 10, Garki Abuja, FCT
  • Benin – 11A Gapiona Avenue, Off Benoni Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State
  • Owerri – No. 12, Bishop S.I Nwaogu Crescent Adjacent Owerri Sport Club, New Owerri, Owerri, Imo State
  • Port Harcourt – No. 40 Railway Close, D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
  • Kano – No 14 Okene Street, Normans Land, Sabongari, Kano, Kano State
  • Jos – 74 David Jonah Jang Way, Off PRTV Roundabout, Opposite St. Finbarr’s Parish, Rayfield, Jos, Plateau State
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Marriage

5 Wedding Music Videos That Had Us In Our Feelings

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Music always has a way of getting to you in different ways depending on how you feel at a particular time.

Friedrich Nietzsche once said, ‘Without music, life would be a mistake’. When it comes to love and romance, where words fail, music just does it. Over time both local and foreign musicians have used wedding-themed music videos to express their art.

These are a few wedding-themed music videos that totally had us in our feelings.

1. Matrimony – Wale feat Usher

 

This song was released by American born Nigerian artiste, Wale on March 2, 2015. ‘Matrimony’ was the second single from his fourth studio album, ‘The Album About Nothing’. He featured one guest appearance, Usher Raymond.

2. No One Like You – P-Square

 

‘No one like you’ was released as one of the singles on the ‘Game Over’ album. According to Forbes’ 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa article, the song has been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube.

3. Beauty Marks – Ciara

 

4. Best Thing I Never Had – Beyonce

 

This song was recorded by Beyonce for her fourth studio album and was released as the third single from the album on June 1, 2011.

5. We Belong Together – Mariah Carey

 

‘We belong together’ is from her tenth studio album, ‘The Emancipation Of Mimi’ which was released in 2005.

Wedding Themed music videos are beautiful and heart-warming and make us understand and appreciate love for what it is.

Photo Credit: Vevo

Marriage

7 Innovative Couples Who Tied The Knot Despite The Pandemic

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Wedding Pandemicx

Despite the ongoing pandemic, certain couples have managed to exchange their vows in different interesting and creative ways.

1. Behind The Glass

Marcela Peru exchange rings with her husband, Philip Hernandez as the clerk-recorder, Erika Patronas records from behind the glass in Anaheim, California.

2. Empty Church

Tyler and Caryn Suiters wed in a ceremony officiated by Rev Andrew Merrow in an empty church (St Mary’s Episcopal Church) in Arlington, Virginia with just the Reverend and his wife in attendance due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

3. Selfie Wedding

After the Italian government-imposed restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 only spouses and wedding witnesses were allowed to participate in weddings. This bride and groom film their wedding on a mobile phone and shared with friends and family.

4. Masked Wedding

Both the couple and guests wore protective masks as a precaution in a wedding in Mumbai, India.

5. Patriotic Couple

A patriotic Lebanese bride and groom rocked protective masks designed with their country’s national flag. The wedding was attended only by close family and friends due to the pandemic.

6. Glove Wedding

This Palestinian groom and bride exchange rings while wearing gloves in Gaza City.

7. Solo Wedding

This couple got married in front of their house in Arlington, Virginia with only the marriage officiant as a witness.

It’s interesting to see all these couples who have gone out of their way to get married to their significant other despite the ongoing pandemic. A kind of light in these uncertain times. We wish them many more happy days.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Marriage

5 Ways To Handle Intertribal/Interracial Marriage Blues

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Marriage comes with its ups and downs. Like, every other thing in life, there are challenges couples and intending usually face in this institution. One of them being interracial/intertribal marriage.

Love knows no tribe nor race but humans DO!

Here’s how to handle getting married to someone who isn’t from your tribe or race.

1. Honesty

Be honest with your family from the time you decide to marry this person. Do not try to sugarcoat, cut corners or avoid the conversation.

Let them know why you chose your partner overlooking tribe or race.

2. Time

Give your family time to assimilate this information. No matter how progressive your family members are once there’s a reservation. You have to handle things with tact. Inform them early enough. Do not just spring the information on them.

3. Acceptance

Accept that not every member of your family will love your spouse and that is equally fine. Your duty is to fill any vacuum with as much love as you can.

4. Confidence

If you are certain that you want to be with your partner for the rest of your life, be confident enough to respectfully stand your ground when having a conversation about your spouse with your family members.

5. More Love

Let your partner know you love them, show them as much as you can. Be supportive. Let them be aware that you would always be there holding their hand. No matter what happens.

Love is not a walk in the park especially when family is involved but choose what makes you happy. Make them see reasons with you as long as your happiness is also their priority.

Photo Credit: Pxhere

Marriage

You Will Prefer A Court Wedding For These 5 Reasons

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Court Wedding Iludio

These days it’s typical to hear of couples who do the three forms of marriage in Nigeria. A lot of people plunge in and join the bandwagon without really knowing the core reason why court marriages are important. Court marriages are simple and typically done in the presence of three witnesses.

Here are 5 important reasons you should have a court marriage.

  1. Less or Zero Stress: Many Nigerians do not appreciate the exhaustion that comes with planning in relation to other forms of marriages. Court marriages require less and are way easier to plan.
  2. Speed of Light: There’s barely any kind of flamboyance in a court marriage. It is usually a quick ceremony.
  3. Marital Security: Court marriages favour both parties especially the woman. Men are said to be polygamous in nature, so in the case that he chooses to marry another woman while still married (Bigamy), he will face the law.
  4. Affordability: It requires little or nothing. Apart from a few fees here and there, it is practically affordable. It totally cuts down the idea of a long guest list.
  5. Family Feud: Court marriages are usually the silver lining if parents of either the bride or groom disapprove of the union. They can easily get joined in the court with no trouble.

 

Photo Credit: Muna Luchi Bride Magazine

Marriage

Sex in the Christian Marriage

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My brother has been married for a couple of years now and so have I. We have a mother who has a good relationship with both our wives and has taken to sending us snippets about marriage, life, and business. One day Mummy sent this interesting video I think you all should know about. The video is part of a sermon from a female pastor I now fondly call “Pastor Mrs”.

Pastor Mrs talks about sex in some very cardinal (and carnal aspects) that I think most young men should know. I say young men because some of us have acquired our sexual education from boyhood chatter, movies, trial and error, and maybe even pornography. This isn’t the recipe for healthy, co-dependent relationships between adults in marriage. I love what Pastor Mrs says because she is almost the age of our grandmothers and speaks about sex and sexuality from the pulpit in terms that are educating and non-threatening to men. Since Pastor Mrs is like a mother and grandmother to us, there’s no way what she’s saying can be construed as feminist agenda or lacking in Godly wisdom.

For those of you who won’t watch the video, here’s a summary of a few things I learned from Pastor Mrs.

  1. God is interested in our sexual pleasure. He knows we’re “doing it” and it’s part of the package for marriage. There is no need to have sex hurriedly or ashamedly. We should take our time.
  2. Most of our wives don’t orgasm because we don’t know how to “do it” well. There’s a process to mastering the female body.
  3. A woman isn’t a lamp to switch on and off. Sex “on demand” isn’t fun for a woman. There should be a process of coaxing and “toasting” your wife into sex.
  4. Romance is essential for sex.
  5. Sex is “fellowship”. There should be time for “opening prayer” which is all the toasting, kissing and caressing, and declarations like “I love you pass my mother”.
  6. There should be time for “praise and worship”. There should also be “testimonies” and time to remember all the good things that your wife has done for you and for the adventure you have had in life together so far.
  7. Talk to each other and look at each other before and during sex. This is “fellowship”.
  8. If you “do it” the right way, you won’t have to apply for visa before sex.
  9. When you can “do it” well, things will flow naturally.
  10. With all the preambles, foreplay, and “play play”, your wife’s body will be ready to welcome you as a “man of God” to “minister the word”.

For those of you who are now curious, I would invite you to hear from the mouth of my Pastor Mrs directly. If you know who she is, please tell her that God is using this video of hers to bless young men like me. It is a beautiful and non-threatening way for young wives to talk to their husbands about sex and aspects that can be done better “in the other room”.

So ladies and gentlemen (especially gentlemen) please let us listen to our mummy in the Lord! You can do so by clicking on this link.

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About Tavershima G. Ayede

Tavershima G. Ayede is a photographer and a guest writer. He describes himself on his Instagram profile as a wedding photojournalist and gun for hire who is addicted to Fanta, but settles for Sprite occasionally.

Marriage

Keep Your Kerchiefs Handy! This Couple Marks 60 Years Anniversary With New Wedding Photos

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Grand dad long iludio

Love is something we all want to experience at some point in our lives.  This beautiful couple has been so lucky to experience it for 60 years!

They have 4 kids, 18 grandkids and 19 great-grandkids.

According to CBS;

George and Ginger met at a New Jersey diner in 1958. After fate kept bringing them together, they eventually started dating and married in June 1959 — almost exactly one year after they first met.

Now, the pair are affectionately known as “Long Granddad” and “Long Grandmom,” a name their great-grand kids gave them, since the couple now lives in South Carolina, and the drive down there is long.

They are so beautiful. We can’t get enough. See here 

Marriage

This Is Why Valentine, Weddings And Romance Are Unavoidably Intertwined

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Valentine's Day 2019

Whoop! We are already in the second month of the new year Time flies yeah?

Well, Valentine’s around the corner and whilst you are busy making plans and thinking of what gifts to buy for your loved ones and significant other, we are here to keep you in the know (all in the spirit of love, of course).

Here’s why St Valentine’s day has always been marked as the day of lovers and it has a lot to do with weddings than we probably may have known;

Although there is a lot of inconsistency in the identification of the saint who is replicated in various stories. One account states that a popularly ascribed hagiographical identity appears in the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493). Alongside a woodcut portrait of Valentine, the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius Gothicus.

He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner. However, when Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor, he was condemned to death.

He was beaten with clubs and stones; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273 AD.

One is that in the 3rd century AD, Valentine, who was a priest, defied the order of the emperor Claudius and secretly performed Christian weddings for couples so that the husbands wouldn’t have to go to war. The legend claims that soldiers were sparse at this time so was a big inconvenience to the emperor. The account mentions that in order “to remind these men of their vows and God’s love, Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment”, giving them to these soldiers and persecuted Christians, a possible origin of the widespread use of hearts on St. Valentine’s Day.

Another account is that Valentine refused to sacrifice to pagan gods. Being imprisoned for this, Valentine gave his testimony in prison and through his prayers healed the jailer’s daughter who was suffering from blindness. On the day of his execution, he left her a note that was signed, “Your Valentine”

Photo Credit: AllFreeDownload

Marriage

What You May Not Have Known About Igbo Marriage Rites

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The Ibos or Igbos, however, you choose to pronounce it are an ethnic group native to the present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria.

According to Wikipedia, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River – an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.

Seeing that we are particular about any and everything concerning marriages/weddings, this article is on stages of Igbo marriage rites you probably never knew about.

1. Marriage Introduction (Iku Aka or Iju Ase)

Typically prior to when a man asks an Igbo girl/ woman to marry him, he has to first ask permission from her parents and her Umunna (her extended family, represented by the elders). Hence, the lady’s parents must also give a formal ‘YES’ before you can kick start the marriage preparation.

This is also known as the first visit.

2. Second Visit/Groom’s Escort Party

Shortly after the first visit, both families carry out background checks to know if to terminate or continue the wedding plans.

On the second visit, the groom’s family make their intention known again. The bride’s family have already confirmed that she was interested in the groom. This time the groom’s family come bearing gifts. The bride is then called out in public and asked for the umpteenth time if she was ready to marry the groom.

3. Igbo Bride Price Payment (Ime Ego)

Once the groom gets consent from the bride’s family. He visits again to settle the bride price. This does not equate to the value of the bride but only a symbolic gesture.

4. Wine Carrying Ceremony (Igba Nkwu Nwanyi)

This is like the fourth stage of the entire marriage process. It is also said to be the formal traditional ceremony and takes place in the bride’s paternal home.

The ceremony could be large or small depending on the couple or families’ preference.

The bride is often dressed in a blouse, wrapper, red coral beads with a colourful headgear (Ichafu).

Photo Credit: Kamdora, NaijaGlam

Marriage

Here’s Why This Canadian Based Nigerian Bride Is Making Rounds On The Internet

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Eniola

The fight for gender equality has no end as every day women are sticking their guns to what they believe in regardless of what society thinks.

A newly wedded bride, Eniola broke the internet not too long when she announced on Twitter that she did not kneel for her groom and it was a unanimous decision by the pair.

She wrote: “Speaking of submission, during my Yoruba engagement, my husband and I told the Alagas to not use that word or ask me to kneel for him. Everyone told me it wouldn’t be possible because, culture. But guess whose knees didn’t touch the ground?

“My sister’s wedding was earlier this week and she also warned against using the term “ile oko” (husband’s house). Everyone is setting their house rules and removing the bs one act at a time. Looking forward to subversive “no wedding” family members lol.” She added.

This sparked controversy on Twitter of course.

Here are some of the reactions in the link below;

https://twitter.com/i/moments/1034150940616609792

Who are we to question what a bride and her groom prefers?

Photo Credit: @EniolaHu