Encomium
Staging fabulous weddings abroad has become a trend among wealthy Nigerians, which to many, is a means of advancing foreign economy at the expense of ours. Some Nigerians ENCOMIUM Weekly sought their views on this also spoke in the same vein. They wanted such huge amount to be invested here in Nigeria.
‘It comes once in a lifetime, maybe that’s why…’ – OLADEINDE ARIYO
Wedding is the most memorable and important day in one’s life and whichever way one chooses to celebrate it should not be another person’s concern. It comes once in a lifetime maybe that’s why celebrities prefer their weddings abroad to make them memorable.
It affects our economy in terms of job creation but we can’t dictate how our celebrities spend their money.
‘Remember, they are making their money in a legitimate way’ – HON. OLAOSEBIKAN ODEJOBI
I don’t see anything wrong in that as much as they are spending their money for the wedding. Remember, they are making their money in a legitimate way. There is no effect whatsoever, those kind of things are bound to happen. With the rate at which our celebrities marry abroad, wedding vendors in Nigeria are still making a lot of money.
In fact, some event planners are being flown abroad to do the job.
‘Nigeria is not good enough for them’- ABBEY ADEDAIRO
Nigerians are suckers for beautiful and already made things, so when it comes to weddings they spend big. It certainly has effect on our socio-economic set up because it projects an image that Nigeria is not good enough for them.
‘It’s their headache not mine’- CYNTHIA AKABO
If the rich decide to go abroad or even to the moon for their weddings, it’s their headache not mine. But on a second thought, these people are supposedly role models. Meaning anything they do will be considered right.
Therefore, people will think it is the norm to stage lavish weddings abroad. It has both social and economic effects, even psychological. It affects the mind of ordinary citizens and creates contempt against our culture thereby making them stage weddings abroad too.
‘A wealthy person’s wedding will certainly attract high class people’- PASCAL CHIKERO
Let’s look at this issue analytically. A wealthy person’s wedding will certainly attract high class people, therefore they need a serene and very glamorous scenery, with adequate security and no interference, with the issue of traffic jam on the road. Do you get all these here in Nigeria? May be not. So, we should blame them for flying abroad for their weddings. But I’ll advise them to try and invest to boast the tourism sector.
‘It’s like spiting our tradition’- SUSAN OLALERE
Living in Nigeria and staging your wedding abroad is a crazy thing. It’s like spiting our tradition. People used to come home for their wedding or whatever social engagement. They’re proud of their fatherland but now I think that’s no longer in practice.
Also, it’s not good for our economy because the huge amount involved in staging weddings outside our shores is enough to advance the course of some people if not the country as a whole.
‘It’s not only wrong but wasteful’ -BABAJIDE ADEYEYE
I don’t buy the idea. It’s not only wrong but wasteful. Instead of wasting money on such things, why not set up a small scale business with the money and better other peoples’ lives. Then, settle for a low key wedding in Nigeria. But since there is no law preventing anybody from doing that, I believe they have the right to spend their money the way they like.
‘It’s their business’- RITA EDMUND
For me, I know where I want to stage my wedding unless my fans and relations think otherwise. I honestly don’t see any issue with a couple who know their budget taking a decision of where to celebrate their union. I think it is their business.
‘They should remember where they’re coming from’- KONGA
Celebrating abroad is good if you can afford it, but it is also important to think home. Some of us who appreciate how we started life here cannot afford to forget the past. So, I’m in the group of those who say that charity should begin at home.
