There are many reasons Nigerians decide to change their names. Some of the most common include:
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Marriage or Divorce – Women often adopt their husband’s surname after marriage or revert to their maiden names after divorce.
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Cultural or Religious Reasons – People sometimes change names when converting to a new religion, or to align better with cultural or traditional naming systems.
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Correction of Errors – If an error in spelling or date occurred in the birth certificate, academic records, or official documents, a name correction may be required.
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Personal Preference – Some individuals simply wish to change names for personal identity reasons.
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Professional or Social Alignment – People sometimes adopt names that make documentation easier internationally or to reflect a professional brand.
You need to have the change of name process documents to own your new identity. Below is a list of the vital items required:
1. Sworn Affidavit of Change of Name
The affidavit is a written declaration made under oath, usually at a High Court, Magistrate Court, or via the e-affidavit system. It serves as the first legal acknowledgment that you have adopted a new name.
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You must state your former name, your new name, and your reason for the change.
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The affidavit is stamped and signed by a Commissioner for Oaths or authorized judicial officer.
2. Newspaper Publication
The next step is to publish your change of name in a widely read newspaper. This ensures that the public is formally notified of the change.
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Most people choose national dailies like The Punch, The Guardian, DailyTrust, or other reputable newspapers.
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The publication includes your old name, your new name, and a brief statement confirming the change.
With Publish, you can seamlessly handle this step online. Publish specializes in change of name publications in national newspapers, saving you the stress of visiting newspaper offices physically.
3. Notification to Relevant Agencies and Institutions
Once you have the affidavit and newspaper publication, the next requirement is to notify the relevant bodies where your name is recorded. This may include:
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National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for NIN update. In fact, this is the primary record, and you must make the changes on your NIN before any other.
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Immigration Service for passport update.
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Banks for BVN, ATM cards, and account details.
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WAEC, JAMB, and Academic Institutions for education records.
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Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) if you run a business under your name.
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Professional Associations such as ICAN, NBA, NMA, etc.
Here is a simplified breakdown of the process you will take for a change of name procedure in Nigeria:
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Decide on the New Name – Ensure it is clear, consistent, and acceptable (avoid offensive or misleading names).
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Prepare a Sworn Affidavit – Visit a court or use an online affidavit system to obtain one.
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Publish in a Newspaper – Contact a national newspaper or use Publish to arrange an official publication.
- Update Your NIN – Use the self-service portal to modify your details on the NIN records, as every other official update will rely on this.
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Update Records – Take your affidavit and publication to banks, schools, employers, and other offices required to update your records.
The cost of changing your name in Nigeria depends on the city, institution, and whether you use physical or online services. Below is a breakdown:
1. Affidavit
The cost to process an affidavit varies depending on whether you go to a physical courthouse, which means spending on transportation and other miscellaneous expenses, or the online option, which also depends on the platform.
- Outsourcing this via Publish partners when requesting a publication will cost you ₦3,000
2. Newspaper Publication
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₦4,500 – ₦7,200 depending on the newspaper of your choice via the Publish platform. You can check the cheapest options for change of name publications.
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Premium national dailies tend to charge more than smaller newspapers.
3. NIN Data Update
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₦2,000 is how much you will pay to update your name on the NIN records. This fee is charged in foreign currency if you live outside Nigeria, and based on the new pricing, it is $10 to $20, depending on the country.
4. Updating Records
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Usually free, but some institutions charge administrative fees
Estimated Total Cost: ₦8,000 – ₦10,000 for basic needs if you are in Nigeria. Depending on your choices, requirements, location, and where the records are to be updated, it could be higher.
The process can be completed in as little as 1–2 weeks, but may extend for a complex name change request where an NFIU review is required, or other reasons, depending on where you are effecting the process. Timeline estimates:
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Affidavit: usually within 24 hours.
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Newspaper Publication: most providers on Publish are available within 24 hours.
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NIN Update: 1 – 2 weeks
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Record Updates: Varies by institution (banks usually update for BVN within 72 hours).
Some people underestimate the importance of completing the legal process. However, failure to do it properly may result in:
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Rejection of applications (passports, visas, jobs, etc.).
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Banking and financial restrictions.
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Mismatched records across government databases.
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Stress during official verifications or background checks.
A proper change of name ensures consistency across all legal and financial documents, which is critical in today’s digital identity systems.
Traditionally, Nigerians have to move from courtrooms to newspaper houses and then to various institutions before the process is complete. This can be stressful, time-consuming, and inconvenient.
Publish simplifies the process by:
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Helping you prepare your change of name publication in leading newspapers without leaving your home.
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Offering affidavit support if you need one alongside your publication.
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Ensuring compliance with Nigerian legal standards for change of name.
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Delivering a digital copy of your publication you can use for records and submissions.
This means you can complete the most important steps of the process in just a few clicks.
Changing your name in Nigeria is a straightforward process once you understand the requirements: affidavit, newspaper publication, and record updates. The cost is relatively affordable, though it varies depending on the newspapers and institutions involved.
The most important thing is to do it the legal way, so that your new name is recognized across all official platforms without issues.
With digital tools like Publish, you no longer need to queue at courts or newspaper offices. You can manage the critical steps of the process online, saving you time, stress, and energy.
If you are considering a change of name in Nigeria, ensure you follow the right steps, prepare your affidavit, publish it in a national daily, and update your records promptly. Your identity matters, and so does the consistency of your records.
