In the world of Nigerian Twitter (or, as Elon would like to call it, X), there are seasonal topics that you can bet your salary on will make for heated conversations—women cooking for their husbands, Davido vs. Wizkid supremacy, and women changing their surname after marriage.
Here’s what caused the latest debacle
On August 23, 2024, popular Nigerian actress and physiotherapist Jemima Osunde posted her regrets about not getting a 10-year-valid passport due to concerns about a name change after a potential future marriage.
Me that I should’ve done 10 years passport, I was doing what if I marry.
SMH— Jemima (@JemimaOsunde) August 23, 2024
This brought about a backlash from feminist women online, including the famous fashion designer, Fisayo Longe, who felt disappointed that she was making decisions about her personal life from a non-existent marriage.
I think the point is that you’re making decisions that inconvenience you today for a husband and children who don’t yet exist. It’s a shame not to prioritize your current self over a hypothetical future. https://t.co/SJfRzFaHza
— Fisayo Longe (@FisayoLonge) August 24, 2024
Trust star girl Jemima to make a comeback. In her follow-up response, she expressed that her decision to make decisions with marriage in mind was her choice.
I’m very happy you’re disappointed.
I made a decision for myself that in no way concerns you. A decision to keep the same name as my family that I INDEED aspire to have ESPECIALLY with all my accomplishments. A harmless choice. And you have a problem with it?
How is choosing… https://t.co/NGAAC56hhD
— Jemima (@JemimaOsunde) August 24, 2024
This inspired us to discuss the need for Nigerian women to change their surnames after marriage, talking to women about their past experiences with the name-change process in Nigeria, and sharing what we, the women of Marie Claire Nigeria, think of this debate.
First, some context
In Nigeria, it is the social norm for women to take on their husbands’ last names after tying the knot. This tradition dates back to 11th-century England, when the Norman concept of “coverture” was introduced to the English.
This concept demanded that a woman’s identity be “covered by her husband” in marriage, which spells out the non-existence of the woman’s identity under the man.
Under this law, husbands had legal and financial ownership of their wives, married women were allowed no legal rights over their children, and marital rape and domestic violence thrived due to limitations in available recourse.
The feminist movements of the 19th and 20th century led to the eventual expiration of this law. However, women were still denied their right to vote with their maiden names until half a century with the Dunn v. Palermo court case.
So, how did coverture spread to Nigeria?
The answer is British colonialism. Legal English statutes became a major inspiration for the nation’s legislation. This meant that English practices such as statutory marriages governed by the Marriage Act—and even its unwritten rules of the wife taking the husband’s surname—became the norm as early as 1914.
Before colonialism, women of certain ethnic groups, such as the Igbo, kept their maiden names even after marriage.
However, women have made progressive efforts in recent years to stamp out these expectations of bearing their husband’s surname. It is also worth noting that women keeping their surname is not a violation of the Nigeria Marriage Act or most other legal frameworks.
The process of a surname change in Nigeria
If you want to change your name in Nigeria, here’s the process:
Step 1: Obtain a Certified True Copy of Your Marriage Certificate
- Get a certified true copy of your marriage certificate from the registry
- Ensure it’s issued by the relevant authority (e.g., Local Government, Ministry of Interior)
Step 2: Apply for a Sworn Affidavit
- Go to a High Court or Magistrate Court
- File an application for a sworn affidavit for change of name due to marriage
- Provide your current and desired names, plus a copy of your marriage certificate
Step 3: Publish in a Newspaper
- Choose a national or local newspaper
- Publish a notice of your name change (including current and desired names)
Step 4: Gazette Publication (Optional)
- If required, apply to the Federal Government Printer for a Gazette publication
- Pay the required fee
- Wait for the Gazette to be published (usually takes a few weeks)
Step 5: Update Your Documents
- Apply for new ID cards (e.g., driver’s licence, voter’s card)
- Update your passport, bank accounts, and other relevant records
Step 6: Notify Relevant Authorities
- Inform your employer, school, or other institutions
- Update your records with the relevant authorities
Additional Tips
- Ensure your marriage certificate is certified before applying for a name change
- You may not need a Gazette publication if you’re only changing your surname to your husband’s
- Consult a lawyer to ensure a smooth process
- Be prepared for a lengthy process (several weeks to months)
- Keep copies of all documents and publications for future reference
Women share their experiences
We spoke with four women about the surname change process and how complicated the simple process often gets.
“Married women change their names as an NYSC requirement”
When Puella registered for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) online, she encountered a significant issue. As she filled out the forms, she indicated her marital status as “married” and provided her spouse’s details. However, on the summary page, she saw that her name had been changed to her husband’s surname.
“I retained my maiden name when I got married, having no intention to change it,” Puella reflected, as she recalled feeling a wave of shock wash over her at the sight of her husband’s family name. To complicate matters further, the system would not allow her to complete her registration until she provided proof of a name change.
To resolve this, she and her husband visited the NYSC Headquarters. There, they were informed that the law mandated women to change their names upon marriage, a claim they contested. The director asserted, “Married women change their names as an NYSC requirement.” They argued that this automatic name change was unjust, but they explained that the system was designed to automatically alter a woman’s name once she selected “married.”
Ultimately, her NYSC certificate was issued with a name that did not belong to her. This has led to ongoing complications with job applications. “With every job that I apply for in Nigeria in the future, I have to explain (with proof) that I am not trying to take the place of someone that does not exist,” she lamented.
“Should I remarry, I won’t change my surname again”
Nana, a woman in her late 30s, found herself in a difficult situation after her 16-year marriage ended. She struggled with the idea of reverting to her maiden name, feeling ashamed and unsure of her identity. As she explained, “I was ashamed to revert to my maiden name after my marriage of 16 years failed, and I struggled with my identity for a long time.”
However, Nana recently decided to change her name back for practical reasons. “I wanted my business to have the proper structure,” she explained. This allowed her to move forward and focus on her professional goals. “After 16 years of marriage, I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that my life had changed forever,” she said. This realisation was a turning point in her journey of self-discovery.
Nana’s experience has shaped her perspective on future relationships. She firmly believes that if she remarries, she will not change her name again. As she stated, “Should I remarry again, I will never change my surname.”
“I can’t deal with the stress’
There are those who have vowed never to change their name because of the stress. For Adenike, she decided this as a matter of convenience due to the excruciating process involved in changing her National Identification Number (NIN). According to her, “I had begun the process, but when I saw how long getting the name regularised would take, I knew I couldn’t deal with putting my life on hold for that long. Moreover, we have two children together.”
“Why should I give up a piece of my identity?”
Others, like Cross River State indigene Mayenne, simply love their surnames. She believes “Duke,” a surname she shares with the former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, has the potential to bring her opportunities.
“For instance, if I married a guy whose surname was Tinubu. Why would I change that name? As long as we have a child together, I personally believe I have earned the right to bear that name forever, even if we divorce.”
What do the women of Marie Claire Nigeria think?
Our opinionated editors have plenty to say regarding this trending issue.
Lolade, Content Editor
Something interesting that this conversation brought up is that if a woman doesn’t change her last name to her husband’s when she marries, she’s really just keeping her father’s name. Also, she subjects herself to being the only one in her own family with a different last name. Except she insists her children take her father’s name as well, or they all adopt the tedious multi-hyphenate of her father and her husband’s names. The whole naming system is just rigged against us women, isn’t it?
Denise, Social Editor
If we’re keeping it a buck, there really are no feminist theories that address the concept of choice when it comes to subscribing to something that is significantly rooted in the patriarchy, even though you have the choice not to. The problem is that people often conflict women’s decisions as inherently feminist decisions. If you’re fine with aspects of the patriarchy as a person yourself, go for it. Do your thing. Just don’t frame it as a feminist decision.
Inem, Copyeditor
Feminism is ultimately about choice, so women should have the right to choose to change or not change their last name when they get married. My issue is with the men who just expect you to go with the outdated tradition with no regard for your wants or stance on the issue. Also, everything from renewing your passport to your NIN in this country is unnecessarily tedious, so going through all that just to change your name isn’t something I care for.
Now that you’ve heard our thoughts, what do YOU think? Would you ever change your surname in marriage, or nah? Let’s see your thoughts!
