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Lawyer Pushes For Abolition Of Bride Price, Change Of Names In Marriage
A prominent lawyer and human rights advocate, James Ibor, has called for an end to the age-old tradition of paying and collecting bride price in Nigeria, describing it as a practice that symbolizes slavery and the domination of women by men.
Speaking at a women’s event in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Ibor, who serves as the principal counsel at the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, also advocated for married women to retain their family names instead of adopting their husbands’ names.
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The event, themed “Amplifying Women’s Representation in Politics with a Special Focus on the Special Seats Bill,” was organized by the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with the civil society organization Stand To End Rape.
Ibor emphasized that the payment of bride price perpetuates inequality and denies women their rights.
“Women are not commodities that should be purchased by men. It tells of signs of slavery, denial of women’s rights, and domination by men. Payment of bride price should stop,” he said.
Sharing his personal experience, Ibor revealed, “I insisted against paying bride price to the family of my wife. We merely exchanged gifts. I strongly recommend replacing this odd and slavish practice with the exchange of gifts between the bride and groom’s families.”
He further urged society to respect women’s autonomy, including their right to retain their family names after marriage.
“Women should be at liberty to bear their chosen names. Changing names should not be an obligation but a choice,” he stated.
The lawyer also condemned the practice in parts of Cross River State where women are denied rights to land and property.
He called for systemic reforms to address these inequalities, urging the government and civil society to collaborate in promoting women’s rights.
The event served as a platform to spotlight the critical role of women in politics and to advocate for legislative reforms aimed at increasing their representation and safeguarding their rights.
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The Senior Pastor of Freedom Life International Christian Center, Richard Tochukwu, has declared that gospel music possesses the spiritual capacity to transform Nigeria, describing it as a divine instrument capable of restoring hope and unity in the nation.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists, the cleric said music inspired by God’s Word can positively influence Nigeria’s spiritual and socio-political landscape by promoting peace, comfort and moral revival.
According to him, gospel music goes beyond entertainment and should be seen as a ministry tool for national healing.
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“Gospel music is not just sound; it carries power. When songs are inspired by Scripture, they can heal hearts, restore faith and redirect a nation toward righteousness,” he said.
Pastor Tochukwu made the remarks while discussing his latest worship single, “I Want To Pray,” a spiritually reflective song produced by Audio5.
He explained that the track was created to encourage believers to remain steadfast in prayer and maintain consistent fellowship with God.
The song draws inspiration from Luke 18:1, which urges believers to pray always and not lose heart.
A spiritual son of Paul Enenche, Pastor Tochukwu revealed that most of his songs are birthed from deep study of Scripture.
“Sometimes while studying or preaching from a passage, a melody begins to flow. The lyrics are drawn directly from the Word. Our songs are intentional; they carry the same message we preach,” he explained.
Reflecting on his journey, he recounted beginning as a drummer who also sang before discovering what he described as a divine instruction to minister through music.
“I realised that you don’t minister only through preaching. God made me understand that songs are another channel through which His Word can reach people. Every release is backed by Scripture,” he added.
Pastor Tochukwu currently serves in Lagos, combining pastoral leadership with music ministry.
The audio and video for “I Want To Pray” are now available on major digital streaming platforms.
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