Akwa Ibom Community Reduces Costs of Traditional Marriage and Funeral Rites

The Ekid people of Akwa Ibom State have introduced reforms to lower excessive financial demands in traditional marriage and funeral rites, aiming to ease the burden on families and suitors.

Implemented by the Ekid Peoples Union (EPU), the reforms seek to restore order, dignity, and sustainable development in Ekid land. In recent years, inflated marriage and funeral lists had made weddings unaffordable for many suitors and delayed burials, with some indigent families forced to keep corpses in mortuaries for months while raising funds.

Speaking at the EPU Annual National Congress, former Minister of Lands and Urban Development and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Nduese Essien, said:

“The Union has unveiled far-reaching reforms to curb excessive marriage and burial demands that have long burdened families and society. The prohibitive cost of marriage has forced many young couples to cohabit without formal rites, eroding family bonds and cultural values.”

Essien explained that the new standardized lists for marriage and burial rites reflect modest spending aligned with families’ means and noted that the reforms will take effect from January 2026. As part of the measures to reduce funeral expenses, the controversial practice of “Opening of Mourning House” has been banned.

President General of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, the foremost youth body in Ekid, Obongiwaad Captain Willie Mbong, expressed optimism that the reforms would encourage young men to marry early and prevent the sale of land or valuables to fund burials.

Village Head of Afaha Odonen in Eket, Etteidung Paul Akpan Tom, added: “The EPU resolutions have been passed into traditional law and will be communicated to all village heads. Any community that allows the old burial practices to continue will face sanctions. Relatives should be buried within two weeks of death.”

Chief Etteudo Ikot, Clan Head of Eket and Village Head of Abighe Asang in Esit Eket LGA, called for the criminalization of the “Opening of Mourning House” and other non-traditional burial practices, saying:

“These modern-day practices are often more expensive than the burial itself. I fully support EPU’s resolutions on marriage lists and burial rites.”

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