Opinion
By Norah Ubani
I haven’t been inside marriage, but I’ve planned enough to know this: marriage is not just love and vibes. It’s business. It’s branding. It’s legacy. When two families of similar class, value, and mindset come together, planning is always smoother. Nobody wants to be embarrassed. They cover each other’s weaknesses. If one side misses it, the other side handles it with grace. It’s peaceful. It’s intentional. Everyone is careful. Everyone protects the brand.
But when one side has shame and the other has no shame? Wahala. That’s why the Bible says, “Marry from your tribe.” It’s deeper than ethnicity. It’s about marrying someone who aligns with your values, your lifestyle, your brand.
Let’s be honest: all that “rich marry poor” narrative doesn’t always end in fairy tales. If you’re not exposed, how will you understand exposure? If you don’t share vision, how will you run together?
That’s why I say: Marriage is a business decision too. You want your family name to grow? Marry into someone who understands the assignment. Someone who knows how to help build, protect, and carry the legacy.
If you have a thriving family business and your son doesn’t want to carry it, pray he marries a woman who will. Otherwise, once you’re gone, so is everything you’ve built. Same thing with culture – if you’re Igbo and want your children to know your roots, speak your language, and stay connected, you can’t be marrying someone who has zero regard for family culture or Nigeria as a whole. It won’t work.
Just imagine you want your children to be coming to the village every December to celebrate Christmas and New Year, and you go and marry someone that believes everybody in the village is evil. Your name is sorry!
I’m not saying the rich can’t or don’t marry the poor, it’s rare and when it happens that person from the poor side must have exceptional qualities! Marriage is love, yes. But it’s also branding. Strategy. Legacy. A good name is more than gold.
And in my years of planning weddings, I’ve seen how the alignment of families makes all the difference. Sometimes, it’s not love that’s missing, it’s sense and structure. But what do I know? I’ve never been married—I’ve just watched what works and what breaks.
