Did you know that every year, about 41 million (74%) people die worldwide due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs)? These NCDs also result in the annual deaths of about 17 million people before the age of 70 globally, and in Nigeria, they account for 24% of the total deaths that occur annually.
What exactly are non-communicable diseases?
NCDs, also called chronic diseases, are usually long-term diseases that cannot be spread via infection but are typically caused by genetic, physiological, environmental, or behavioural factors. NCDs aren’t specific to an age group, as they can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, or country.
Cardiovascular diseases, e.g. stroke and heart attacks
Diabetes
Cancer
Chronic respiratory diseases, e.g. asthma
One of the leading causes behind the prevalence of NCDs in Nigeria is our lifestyle choices, which involve a dependence on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) such as soda, fruit, and energy drinks.
In 2021, the federal government introduced a sugar tax, also known as the SSB tax, of ₦10 per litre on all carbonated, non-alcoholic and sweetened beverages to discourage the intake of these drinks and fight against NCDs like diabetes and obesity. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the SSB tax raise the price of these drinks by 20% to have a more meaningful impact.
Gatefield is concerned with ensuring adequate health and economic growth in Nigeria. And to create awareness and encourage public support for the increase in SSB taxes, this year they’ll be hosting a health summit exploring the theme: “Taxing Sugary Drinks and Other Fiscal Policies for Healthcare Financing”.
When’s the event?
The health summit will be held on July 25, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. You’ll have a chance to hear the thoughts and opinions of many industry giants, such as:
Dr Salma Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health
Dr Zainab Bagudu, Board Member, Union of International Cancer Control
Dr Olumide Okunola, Senior Health Specialist, World Bank Group
Dr Alhassan Umar, President, Nigeria Cancer Society
Toyyib Abdulkareem, Senior Policy and Campaign Officer, NCD Alliance
Dr Laz Ude Eze, Founder, Talk Health Real Media Limited
Prof. Felicia Anumah, Director, Centre for Diabetes Studies, University of Abuja
Dr Usman Malami, Director General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment
How to attend the event
If you’re interested in attending the event in person or virtually, you should register here.
Regardless of whatever drama goes on with the Nigerian economy, the one thing that will surely happen every week is a wedding.
Therefore, in this article, we’ll guide you through having a court wedding and highlight some of its main benefits.
It might surprise you to know that there are two types of court marriages in Nigeria. These include:
Ordinary marriage: This is a marriage between two Nigerians.
Special marriage: A marriage between a Nigerian and a non-Nigerian or between two non-Nigerians intending to marry in the country.
Court weddings are usually done in marriage registries; there are two kinds of these registries in Nigeria. We have:
The Federal Marriage Registry
This includes the Ikoyi registry in Lagos state, which covers residents in the South-West, South-South and South-East, and the Wuse 2 registry in Abuja, which covers all residents in Northern Nigeria.
The Local Government Marriage Registry
These kinds of registries can be found in each local council across states in Nigeria.
What Are the Steps Involved in Having a Court Wedding?
Declare your intention to marry in your registry of choice
The first step is to visit the marriage registry and give a notice of your intention to get married. Once this is done, the registrar will issue you a Notice Form or Form A. In this form, you’ll be expected to fill in details such as name, age, occupation and marital status.
Once done, you’ll be expected to return the form to the registrar along with two coloured passport photographs.
The Notice is entered into the Marriage Notice Book
Upon submission, the registrar enters your Notice into the Marriage Notice book, after which a copy of the Notice form is posted on the registry’s notice board for 21 days, which is in accordance with Section 10 of the Marriage Act.
The primary reason behind the 21 days is to act as a caveat or warning period, i.e., to give people aware of the intended marriage a chance to raise their objections or concerns.
Pay the set fee and swear to an affidavit
Once the 21 days expire, you’re expected to pay a prescribed fee, usually less than ₦25,000, for the marriage certificate. You are also required to swear an affidavit that confirms the following:
You and your partner aren’t less than 21 years old. In cases where both parties are under 21, written parental consent must be attached to the affidavit.
Either you or your partner have lived in the district where the marriage is intended to be held for at least 15 days.
No situation can serve as a hindrance to the wedding.
Neither you nor your partner are customarily married to a different person.
Forms C and D are issued
Once the above mentioned requirements have been met, the marriage registrar gives you a Form C that confirms compliance with the needs and that there are no lawful hindrances to the intended wedding. Following this, Form D is issued, giving you the authority to celebrate your wedding.
According to Section 12 of the Marriage Act, the wedding must be held within 3 months by the registrar or in an authorised place of worship. Failure to comply will result in the entire process starting again.
The wedding day
On the wedding day, two witnesses must be present, and it must be conducted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The officiating officer—the registrar or a recognised clergyman—will present Form E, also known as the marriage certificate, which will contain details such as the date of the marriage, the names of the parties and witnesses, and the certificate number.
Registration of the marriage certificate
And lastly, the final step is to file your marriage certificate in the Marriage Register Book.
There are a lot of benefits attached to having a court wedding/marriage. Some reasons why you should consider it include:
It’s more convenient
Court weddings allow people to get married without going through religious or traditional processes. This way, the couple can have a more straightforward and stress-free wedding ceremony. Also, you can get married in less than an hour instead of spending the whole day.
It offers legal security
As mentioned, court marriages are recognised and protected under the Marriage Act. As such, it offers legal benefits and protection for both parties. For instance, in divorce cases, guidelines are offered that secure the spouse’s financial interests; they also provide a framework for child custody issues.
It’s more cost-effective
Everyone knows that weddings in Nigeria cost an arm and a leg, with people losing friendships over aso-ebi expenses. But with a court wedding, you can have a more budget-friendly ceremony.
On July 17, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) officially confirmed the first anthrax case on a mixed livestock farm in Suleja, Niger state, since news of the outbreak in Ghana in June 2023.
Suspicions first arose when the animals, a total of eight in number, started showing several symptoms of the disease, for instance, blood discharge from their eyes, anus, ears, and nose. A Rapid Response Team was sent to the farm to collect blood samples from the sick animals, and after several tests were run, it was concluded to be a case of anthrax. However, unfortunately, all the infected animals died.
Currently, investigations are ongoing to trace the source and spread of the infection, but in the meantime, we will tell you everything you need to know about this disease.
What is anthrax?
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis that can infect both humans and animals. This disease can be found worldwide except in Antarctica; however, unlike diphtheria, it isn’t contagious but spreads through spores. These spores are highly resistant and can survive in the soil or environment for decades making the control and eradication of the disease difficult.
Skin: This typically happens through direct contact with infected animals or animal products like wool, bone, or hair. The infection occurs when the spores get into a cut or scratch on the person’s skin.
Inhalation (lung): This is the deadliest form of the disease, and it’s usually a result of breathing in the bacterial spores.
Gastrointestinal: This type of infection results from eating infected, undercooked meat.
What are the symptoms to look out for?
Anthrax symptoms generally appear after 1-7 days, but in some rare cases, it can take up to 42 days for skin infections and 60 days for lung (inhalation) infections. Some common symptoms of anthrax in humans include:
For skin infections:
Blisters or bumps that cause Itching
Sores on the face, hands, arm or neck that become covered by a black scab
For lung (inhalation) infections:
Chest discomfort
Fever
Fatigue
Breathing difficulties
Nausea
Coughs and headaches
For gastrointestinal infections:
Sore throat
Diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea
Fever
Abdominal swelling and pain
Fainting
However, the people more at risk of contracting this disease are veterinarians, people who eat dead animals, healthcare workers, farmers, abattoir workers, cattle rearers, hunters, and importers of skin and hides.
Antibiotics can be used to treat this illness. Nonetheless, it’s always best to take preventive measures; as such, animals should be vaccinated against anthrax from the get-go. Other preventive steps that should be taken are:
Ensuring clean water supply for livestock
Do not kill sick animals if there’s a chance they might have been infected
Wear protective gear like hand gloves and facemasks when dealing with sick animals
Report cases of your animals bleeding from their eyes, ears, or other openings to the veterinary authorities.
What has the government done so far?
In response, the government has quarantined the infected farm in Suleja, Niger state and deployed 50,000 doses of anthrax vaccine for the other animals. There are also plans for the state-wide vaccination of animals and the sensitization of farm owners on detecting anthrax symptoms and preventive measures.
If you suspect cases of anthrax infection in animals or the people around you, you should immediately call the FMARD hotline at +234 811 097 2378 or the NCDC hotline at 6232.
Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of violence and abuse against women, including murder. If you are sensitive to these themes or have experienced trauma related to these topics, please be aware that this story may be triggering. For more information or support, please visit here.
A quote by the women’s rights activist Zainab Salbi goes, “It seems that violence against women has been tolerated for so long that the world has become numb to it”. Unfortunately, this rings true particularly in Nigeria, as every year we see countless cases of violence and abuse that claim the lives of women, yet mere hours later, society carries on as if nothing has happened.
On July 17, 2023, popular Nigerian punter Benjamin Best, also known as Killaboi, confessed to the murder of his girlfriend, Augusta Osedion. According to him, he “mistakenly” stabbed her to death during an argument and fled the scene out of fear.
But what makes this case even more disturbing is that, in Killaboi’s Instagram confession, possibly seeking public sympathy, he described the relationship as toxic and disclosed his ongoing battle with suicidal thoughts since the incident.
Unfortunately, we are all well aware that if we were in a society that worked, Killaboi should already be facing the full force of the law.
Now, women are again being reminded that the world isn’t safe for them. Let’s take a look at a few women who had partners who brutally murdered them in the previous year.
Ogochukwu Anene, January 2023
On January 11, 2023, news broke of how Ogochukwu Anene, a mother of five, was allegedly beaten to death by her husband over a loaf of bread. According to their first child, an argument broke out when Ogochukwu asked her husband, Ndubisi, why he finished the bread without leaving some for the children.
In a fit of rage, the man responded by beating her with a mirror, which resulted in her bleeding internally, and she died a few days later in the hospital. Unfortunately, there have been no tangible updates on whether or not Ndubisi paid for his crimes.
Nana was a 38-year-old woman allegedly murdered by her 56-year-old husband, Aminu Abubakar. A statement from the Police Headquarters in Yola revealed that Aminu had heard that Nana had plans to get married to another man the next day, and in a jealous fit, he hit her on the head with a pestle, causing her to fall unconscious. She was later proclaimed dead.
Aminu was arrested by the Police of the Shagari Divisional Headquarters, and investigations are ongoing.
Esther Aya, January 2022
On January 8, 2022, Ovye Yakubu allegedly beat his wife, Esther, to death during an argument over fixing a window net. According to a family member, Ovye attempted to stop the carpenter that his wife had hired from fixing the net, but she persisted on the carpenter finishing his job. This enraged the man, who resorted to assaulting his wife, leading to her death.
Evelyn Alifiya, February 2022
Evelyn’s husband, Joseph Wisdom, strangled her before the police discovered her body on the apartment floor on February 23, 2022. Reportedly, the couple had been having issues for a while, and Joseph had constantly threatened to kill his wife.
However, arrangements were being made by Evelyn’s family for her to leave the house, but things came to a head when she found a gun in Joseph’s bag. She had plans to report this to the police, but he found out and killed her before she could.
According to the FCT Police Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, the husband has been apprehended, and hopefully justice will be served.
Itunu Chigozie, March 2022
Itunu, pregnant with a child, died after a series of assaults from her husband, Bonus Emmanuel Chigozie, who works as a Master of Ceremonies (MC). Reportedly, Itunu was abused repeatedly during the four-year marriage. On March 10, 2022, after being allegedly assaulted again, she was rushed to the hospital, but neither she nor the baby survived. And Emmanuel has neither been arrested nor prosecuted for his crime yet.
Mercy Samuel, April 2022
Mercy was a 23-year-old mother of two who lived with her husband, Matthew, in Jos. However, she died brutally at his hands when he allegedly ripped open her stomach and disembowelled her during an argument. He also took her phone so she couldn’t call for help, and although she was found and rushed to the hospital, she eventually died. Matthew is still on the run and has yet to be found.
Osinachi Nwachukwu, October 2022
Osinachi was the voice behind the hit gospel song “Ekwueme”, which captured the hearts of many churchgoers. However, she tragically passed away at 42, and it was revealed that she had been a victim of domestic violence for many years.
Despite what her husband and manager, Peter, initially led the media to believe that she died from lung cancer, the late Osinachi’s first son disclosed that his mother died from the injuries she had sustained from the abuse. Peter had allegedly kicked her in the chest, which resulted in a blood clot that eventually led to her death. Currently, Peter is being remanded at Kuje Prison and is awaiting judgement.
According to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), 2,543 cases of abuse were reported between January and September 2022; about 2,340 were women. Also, according to a 2020 report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), about 81,000 women and girls died worldwide, with an intimate partner or family member being responsible for 58% (47,000) of these deaths.
Clearly, if there has ever been a time to be angry, it’s now. Nigeria and Nigerians need to change at the core of our being; we must be empathetic towards women and their struggles.
One sad trend that can be noticed when issues like these arise is how the victims are blamed and excuses are given for the man’s actions.
Women don’t deserve to die because you think they’re “rude”, “loud”, “immoral”, or “materialistic”. When cases like this happen, it’s not the time to tell or advise women on how to be “better” daughters, friends, wives, or girlfriends.
From birth, much energy is put into educating girls on how to survive in “a man’s world”. But, it’s high time that society channel some of that energy into teaching boys to be better humans.
On July 13, 2023, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security in the country. This was announced by Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, during a stakeholder meeting on agriculture and food production value-chain held at the State House in Abuja.
Why was a state of emergency declared in the first place?
The primary reason behind this national emergency is the recent inflation caused by the fuel subsidy removal. This fuel price-driven inflation has increased the price of food items, making it even more unaffordable for many Nigerians.
However, with the declaration of an emergency, an intervention plan with initiatives to ensure food security, affordability and sustainability was also launched. Some key points from this intervention plan are:
Release of fertilisers and grains to households
Dele Alake revealed that this would cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on farming households.
Increased security for farms and farmers
A security tracking website revealed that more than 350 farmers in Northern Nigeria were killed or kidnapped in 2022, contributing to the country’s looming food insecurity. The intervention plan promises to implement new security measures allowing farmers to work without fear.
There will be a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources
This collaboration will ensure irrigation for farmlands which will facilitate food production all year round. Moving away from seasonal farming will guarantee that there will be no more farming downtimes and will regulate the fluctuations in food prices.
The main goal of this board will be to continuously assess and regulate food prices and strategic food reserves, which will help stabilise certain food items like grains. Stakeholders such as the National Commodity Exchange (NCX), National Seed Council and Research Institutes, NIRSAL Microfinance bank, smallholder farms and crop associations, and others will be involved to ensure the successful implementation.
Activation of land banks and river basins
About 500,000 hectares of land suitable for farming will be provided to increase the country’s food output. Additionally, there will be 11 river basins to ensure the continuous planting of crops even in the dry season.
Improvement of transport and storage facilities
The removal of fuel subsidies led to increased fuel prices, which is one of the major reasons behind the high costs of food items. To help with this issue, the government is exploring other means of transportation, such as rail and water transport.
But to get professionals’ views on Tinubu’s intervention plan, ZikokoCitizen reached out to some experts, who shared their thoughts.
Here’s what they had to say:
Dr Emeka Ejikonye, a specialist in Public Budgeting, thinks very little of the proposed intervention plan so far. With Ejikonye’s “humble take”, “The policy initiative is a continuation of the utter mockery of the art of governance, which his predecessor’s administration dragged to the lowest ebb in the annals of the history of governance in this country.”
He believes the priority right now should be a complete reform to guarantee the wise use of public funds, which can be achieved by plugging the leakages. Ejikonye says, “Otherwise, the large chunk of the money he’ll push into the administrative system will continue to be diverted into the private pockets of our top-level civil servants and elected officials.”
On the other hand, Gbolahan Olojede, an economist, believes that the intervention plan is a good policy direction. According to him, “As far as policy is concerned, it’s a fantastic one.”
Olojede also highlights that “We’ve not been producing enough food, and our farm produce is centred around seasonality, hence the price fluctuations. And the policy addresses this, as it’s mentioned that additional land will be put into cultivation and we’ll be getting rid of seasonality in farming through irrigated farmlands. Additionally, mechanised farming will be encouraged, and the government also speaks of storage facilities as part of its intervention.” Nonetheless, Gbolahan points out that the role of electricity in extending the shelf life of crop products should have been addressed in the intervention plan.
Although Olojede doesn’t have much criticism, he emphasises the need for adequate implementation. “The right stakeholders should be engaged, and the Chief Executive Officers in the agricultural spaces should also be used to champion the initiative. The involvement of the President and Special Advisers alone isn’t sufficient.”
This intervention plan, Olojede believes, will help the country become food secure and generate more revenue from exports.
On July 13, 2023, over 5,000 people witnessed a debt recovery process on Twitter. Microfinance banks might need to learn one or two things here.
It’s common knowledge that debt collection can be a very tedious situation. But to help with this, we’ve put together a guide on how to get your money back using legal means and other alternate methods.
But first, here’s something you should know
According to Section 18 of the Limitation of Statute Law, an action for debt recovery cannot be brought after six years. Section 20 (1) a of the same Law states, “An action on a simple contract for recovery of debt must be brought to court within six years from the date the cause of action accrued”.
This means that after six years, if you’ve still been unable to recover the money owed you, you no longer have the right to take action against the debtor under the Law, especially if no part of the money was paid within that time.
So to avoid being in this situation, here’s the lawful process for debt recovery in Nigeria:
Mediation:
In Nigeria, it’s expected that before filing a lawsuit for debt recovery, both parties have tried to settle amicably or through arbitration.
Consultation:
If the process of mediation fails, then a lawyer should be consulted. During the consultation process, necessary documents such as invoices, emails, written notes, memos, letters, or written agreements should be presented for evaluation.
A Letter of Demand:
If there’s no written agreement between you and the debtor, then a Letter of Demand must be presented that clearly states:
The name and address of the debtor
The amount owed and the interest accumulated (if any)
A timeline for expected payment (which should be at least seven days)
The steps that will be taken if payment isn’t received
This letter generally shows your commitment to getting your money back and hints at the possibility of a court case.
Lawsuit:
If the debt still isn’t paid by the end of the timeline indicated in the Letter of Demand, then a suit can be filed through your lawyer. Courts in Abuja, Lagos, and some other states allow for fast-tracking debt recovery cases. Also, under the new Lagos rule, as seen in Order 56 High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules 2012, debt recovery cases must be concluded in a short time, i.e., nine months.
Surprisingly, debt collection under Nigerian Law seems relatively straightforward, but if you’re open to using more unconventional methods, you can try these out:
One lesson we’ve learned from the Bird app is that public shaming works.
And not surprisingly, this method is quite popular and effective, as people, by default, tend to protect their social image. So, going this route may actually get you your money as soon as possible.
Involve area boys
Sometimes debtors need a little encouragement, and the best way to achieve this might be with your local thugs. Don’t let area boys harm the debtor o; just lirru threat here and there. Fear might help them vomit the money.
Take the matter to your village people
If all methods fail, maybe it’s time to use spiritual means, and who better to help than them?
The point is that you should go above and beyond in holding them accountable; don’t be shy or feel embarrassed about being cheated. Speak up and ask for help.
Every year, LEAP Africa organises a week-long Pan-African youth social impact campaign in August called the Youth Day of Service (YDOS). The YDOS, which coincides with the United Nations International Youth Day, emphasises the importance of youths contributing towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, mainly through volunteerism.
What has the YDOS achieved so far?
The YDOS started in 2020 and has impacted over 24 countries and 6 million people, engaged 7,000 volunteers with a 4% participation rate of persons with disabilities, and commissioned 600 SDG projects.
In the 2022 edition of YDOS, due to the hard work of many youth volunteers, projects cutting across the 17 SDG goals were implemented in 24 countries. Some of these projects include:
SDG 1: No poverty:
Acquisition sessions were conducted to empower people to earn incomes, and about 200 individuals benefited.
SD2 2: No hunger:
290 households and 650 individuals received food aid through food distribution services conducted in Lagos and Johannesburg, South Africa.
SDG 3: Good health and well-being:
Volunteers organised over 20 sensitisation programmes and donated healthcare products to patients and hospitals.
SDG 4: Quality education:
A record 300 students were reached through school outreach, and learning materials were distributed to the schools.
SDG 5: Gender equality :
The projects set up to achieve this goal involved skill acquisition sessions for girls and women and activities targeted at gender-based violence.
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation:
Many youths volunteered towards this sustainable goal as there were more than 30 community clean-ups across Africa, and a water tank was constructed in Cameroon.
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
This sustainable goal ensures everyone can access affordable and modern energy sources. Therefore, to this effect, training on producing cheap and affordable energy was held in Nigeria and Zambia with more than 10 community sensitisation programmes.
You can find more information on the SDG projects for YDOS 2022 here.
When does YDOS 2023 start?
This year, YDOS will be held across Africa from August 12 to 31, and it’s open to all African youths between the ages of 15-35.
How can I help with YDOS this year?
The YDOS theme for this year is “Youth and Useful”, and the official hashtag: #YDOS2023. Participation in this campaign is free, and if you’re interested in volunteering or donating to this cause, you can do so here.
The one thing we might need to get used to quickly with this new administration is the endless billing.
Last week, we discussed the newly introduced annual vehicle ownership verification fee, set at ₦1,000. For today, we’ll be looking into the recent partnership between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) from traders.
On July 3, 2023, the FIRS announced the VAT Direct Initiative to facilitate collecting and remittance taxes from this informal sector using unified systems technology, and traders will also be given identity cards to track their turnover. Nigeria currently has one of the lowest tax collection rates in the world at 10.8%; according to MATAN, there are about 40 million traders across the country, and this tax collection would help improve our tax base. Traders will also benefit from this, as the FIRS plans to work with security agencies to stop the illegal collection of taxes in the markets by thugs and self-appointed tax collectors.
Lagos thugs when they hear this
This is all part of President Bola “T-Baby” Tinubu’s plan to improve our revenue generation and fund more infrastructural and social projects. However, we all know that Nigeria is cursed with a corruption problem. So, once again, it looks like citizens struggling to make ends meet are being asked to make sacrifices with little to no assurance of tangible rewards.
What else happened this week?
Diphtheria Outbreak in Abuja
On July 3, 2023, Sadiq Abdulrahman, the director of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Public Health Department, confirmed in a press briefing that the outbreak of diphtheria has already claimed the life of a four-year-old boy.
Diphtheria is a deadly bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. It can lead to breathing difficulties, health rhythm problems, heart, kidney, and nervous system damage, and death, especially in children.
The recent outbreak in Abuja is said to have spread from Niger state, and so far, there have been eight reported cases. To combat the spread of this bacterial infection, residents are advised to take personal hygiene very seriously and to get vaccinated at any of the 400 vaccine outlets around the FCT. Also, the Public Health Department has started collaborating with states to prevent the further spread of this disease.
Video of the week
In 60 seconds, learn about how JAMB banned Mmesoma Ejikeme from taking JAMB for the next three years.
JAMB is saying that her proclaimed result is a "fake". She is saying it isn’t. Here’s the update and why DSS is now involved.
With Elon Musk channelling his inner Lex Luthor, our days on Twitter might be numbered. Is it time for Nigeria’s tech space to create an alternative social media platform?
Ehen one more thing…
The initial six months of 2023 are done and dusted. What should we expect as we step into the second half? Find out here
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Have you seen this tweet?
My yearly reminder that if you’re about to have a baby for a man you aren’t married to, please give your child YOUR last name. If you’re having a baby for a deadbeat thats ghosted or isn’t involved, pls leave his name off the birth certificate. Your life will be SO much easier.
A few days ago, a conversation started on Twitter about mothers giving children their maiden names, particularly if they’ve been estranged from the child’s father.
This, of course, is to primarily make life easier for said mothers, particularly in situations where the approval of both parents would be needed for certain processes like specialised medical procedures and visa or passport applications for a minor.
This discourse led to debates on gender equality and women’s rights. Some people also claim it’s not unusual for women to retain their maiden names in certain Nigerian cultures, like the Igbo culture.
But where does the Nigerian Law stand on this?
According to the Marriage Act and other legal frameworks in Nigeria, no Law requires or demands a woman to take up her husband’s last name. The issue of name-changing is solely based on traditional and customary practices in Nigeria.
Also, the Nigerian Law makes provisions for the rights to personal dignity and freedom of thought and expression; as such, every woman has the freedom to decide whether or not she wants to keep her maiden name.
Zikoko Citizen reached out to some women, and they shared their thoughts.
Here’s what they said:
Precious believes keeping your maiden name is the best option for any woman. According to her, having your husband’s last name is a “colonial influence,” which creates lots of stress with documentation updates and is “extremely stressful and unnecessary”.
On the other hand, Zainab has no issues with taking up her husband’s last name. For her, even though she’s fine with keeping her maiden name, her spouse’s feelings are a priority in making such a decision. “If he’s cool with it, I’d replace my middle name with my present last name; if he’s not, I’d gladly replace my last name with his,” she says.
Bisola also shares this sentiment, saying that although she hasn’t given it much thought, she doesn’t mind giving up her maiden name.
But Bisola understands it might be difficult for women who have already established themselves using their maiden names, she says, “Couples should compromise to have a hyphenated last name to pass on to their children.”
A hyphenated last name is the combined name of two spouses, for instance, “Ojo-Hassan”. She also adds that this would give women a chance to carry on their father’s legacy, “Some families only have female children; imagine if they all went on to take on their husband’s last name? That would mean that if their father dies, the family name dies with him.”
Also in support of hyphenation is Lisa; she thinks this would make the lives of women already successful in various fields easier, particularly in academia, where research papers have been published using their maiden names.
Chioma, who’s a queer woman, also encourages hyphenated last names. She says, “Although my partner and I have agreed to keep our maiden names, we’ll be giving our children a hyphenated last name as we want them to have both our names”. For them, it allows and empowers them to build a “new” family unit.
Clearly, many Nigerian women think it’s time for everyone to let go of their beliefs about taking up or compulsorily giving children their partner’s last name. A significant amount of support is also needed from the government to make life easier for women who choose to do so. Women-centred NGOs like the Wevvo Foundation and Fatima Balaraba Foundation have started a petition to the Nigerian Immigration Service to implement its policy on accepting consent letters from mothers to process passports for minors. With this, we are optimistic about the level of choice everyone gets to enjoy with names, naming, and being named.
The universe must be answering only Bola Tinubu’s prayers right now because, barely three months after his inauguration as the 16th president of Nigeria, he has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On July 9, 2023, during the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Tinubu emerged as the new ECOWAS Chairman to succeed the current Guinea-Bissau’s president, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo.
During Tinubu’s inaugural speech, he emphasised the importance of democracy, stating that coups would no longer be accepted in West-African countries. Also, he raised the alarm about the insecurity and terrorism hindering our progress and promised to improve the region’s economy through partnerships and investments.
This isn’t the first time ECOWAS will be chaired by a Nigerian
As is commonly known, ECOWAS, established on May 28, 1975, after the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, consists of 15 member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau.
And so far, ECOWAS has been headed by eight former Nigerian presidents and Heads of State. They include:
So clearly, Tinubu’s following in the footsteps of his predecessors, but what exactly will his responsibilities be as the chairman of ECOWAS?
Head ECOWAS summits:
By virtue of the position, the Chairperson will offer political leadership and guidance and preside over subsequent ECOWAS meetings. He will oversee resolutions and decision-making processes while ensuring cooperation between member countries.
Conflict resolution:
The ECOWAS treaty, which all of the organization’s members have signed, states that Tinubu will be crucial to preserving peace and stability in the region. This might involve mediation, diplomatic peace talks, and conflict prevention initiatives.
Implementation of policies:
The ECOWAS Chairman is responsible for creating and executing critical programmes, policies, and projects that will foster the region’s economic, scientific, and industrial progress.
Represent ECOWAS:
Another responsibility of the ECOWAS chairperson is to represent the interests of West Africa in regional and international meetings and forums such as the African Union (AU) summits, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, and the European Union (EU) summits, amongst others.
Now, Bola Tinubu carries the hopes and dreams of not only Nigeria but the whole sub-region. There is hope in the air that, for our sake, he will not only hit the ground running but also positively surpass all expectations.
