Conditions for Marriage

The conditions for marriage need to be met to ensure that the marriage is valid, recognized by law or tradition, and entered into freely by both parties. Marriage can be successful when these basic conditions are properly considered before embarking on it.

Here are the general conditions for marriage:

i. Physical Fitness: 

Both parties (man and woman) must be physically fit for marriage. They must disclose their health conditions to each other. Some traditions may require medical examinations or disclosure of certain health conditions, like genetic diseases, sexually transmitted infections, or HIV, before marriage.

ii. Voluntary Agreement:

Both individuals must enter the marriage willingly and freely, without coercion, manipulation, or force.

iii. Financial Readiness: 

Both parties are expected to have a means of livelihood.

iv. Maturity / Legal Age: 

When the couple is mature, they are able to make quality and independent decisions in marriage. Both parties must be of an age where they can legally consent to the marriage.

v. Marital Status (No Existing Marriage):

To marry, both individuals must be legally single or divorced from a previous marriage. Bigamy (marrying someone while still being married to another) is a serious offence under Nigerian law.

vi. Psychological Fitness: 

This refers to the ability of the couple to handle situations with calmness and emotional stability. They should be able to handle bad situations especially, with maturity. They should also be able to learn and tolerate each other’s habits.

vii. Physiological Fitness: 

Physiological fitness can be defined as fitness relating to the physical aspects of the human body. The husband and wife are expected to be physiologically fit, to be able to carry out the responsibilities of their family.

viii. Consent or Approval:

Both families i.e. families of the husband-to-be and wife-to-be, have to give consent or approve the marriage.

ix. Puberty / Readiness:

The time of life when sex glands become functional.