Things to consider before getting married in Nigeria

As life gets more complex, these are some of the issues one should consider before getting married in Nigeria.  

Education: 

Whether you are a man or a woman, having an educational qualification should be a prerequisite before getting married. If you are still in school, and cannot wait to have your marriage, it is imperative that the plan for you to graduate from school is not compromised. Education does many things for a person, it boosts your self-confidence, it also opens financial opportunities that would come in handy in your married life.  

Work/Skill  

If you intend to be the breadwinner in your family or know that financial contribution is expected of you for family sustenance, then you must have a job or a skill that can generate income before getting into marriage. Failure to do so could be disastrous. One of the main causes of failure in marriage can be traced to money issues. Dual-income homes usually fare better than single-income homes.  

Dating/Compatibility  

It may come as a surprise to many that in Nigeria, a lot of people get into marriage without even knowing the person they are planning to spend the rest of their lives with. The pressure of getting married and starting a family has caused many to overlook this very necessary process of dating. Most spouses in Nigeria were recommended by parents, relatives, religious leaders etc. The couples usually get into the marriage with little or no knowledge of who they are really marrying. The result is could lead to a miserable and unhappy marriage. 

Money is not everything  

Just because a person is financially stable does not mean they are the one for you. In Nigeria, we place a lot of emphasis on a person being financially stable before going into marriage. I even talked about it in the “work/skill” segment. However, there are many other criteria to consider that would make a person the right one for you. My conclusion here is that financial stability is good but also look out for other qualities that you consider beneficial to your mental and physical well-being.  

Ethnic, religious, and cultural differences 

This is becoming less burdensome on marriages as we continue to assimilate in Nigeria, but it is worth mentioning here because in some instances, you may encounter some cultural shock that may affect the quality of your marriage. Try to know a little about the cultural and religious customs of the spouse you are about to marry. The fact that he or she is a modern person may not always suffice. This is especially true when you hit rocky or tough times in your marriage.