A Nigerian lawyer, Dammy Esquire, has advised women to always secure property in their own names, stressing that marriage may not last forever.
In a post shared on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, she wrote: “Dear Wife, Secure your future, buy property in your own name! The marriage you have today may not always stay the same. Divorce, separation, and even polygamy are real possibilities.
“Yes, be positive and give your marriage your best effort, but at the same time, make wise and logical decisions that protect you if things ever go wrong.
“If you support your husband’s projects, do it from a place of love and faith, not as a guarantee of loyalty.
“Contributing to building a house with a man won’t stop him from taking another wife, cheating, or even walking away if the marriage falls apart. A house is not what holds a marriage together.
“This advice is different for husbands, if he chooses to put your name on his property, that is his decision.
“Love is beautiful, but wisdom is necessary. Marriage is not a competition, you have every right to own property too. Help your marriage grow, but don’t neglect your own personal growth in the process.”
Her post has drawn wide attention online, with many women agreeing that financial independence is important in marriage.
Reactions to the post
Peter E: “Just for my knowledge madam lawyer. Doesn’t the law in Nigeria treat property or assets acquired during the marriage as communal property?
“If that’s the case, don’t women have equal claims to the properties if things don’t work out or the marriage fails? If that is true, why then do the women have to own separate properties?”
Prestigious wrote: “Dear Men, Don’t ever add your wife to your WILL, she is not your family, only add your siblings and your children after DNA confirm they are yours. Men Protect yourself. Since everybody wants to be mad. Oya let’s go.”
Amaafrika wrote: “It goes both ways. Husbands also need to secure their future. A man contributing to a woman’s business or project doesn’t guarantee loyalty either.
“The key lesson is, in marriage, love wholeheartedly, build together, but also protect yourself individually. Property or money won’t hold a marriage, mutual respect, trust, and communication will.
“Both men and women deserve security, growth, and peace of mind in the journey of love.✌️❤️.”
Olayimika wrote: “I don’t even have a problem with my wife having her own property. It’s marriage we’ve turn a family I mean one family with the children I will have my own property put her name and the kids in there and also when she bought hers she put my name and the kids name on it .. nothing wrong with that.”
Habat Ovation wrote: “Financial independence gives women peace of mind. A woman who owns property in her own name is not only protecting her future but also reducing the chances of being trapped in an unhappy marriage simply because she has nowhere else to go. Love thrives best when both partners are secure, not dependent out of fear.”