The legal framework
A change of name is effected by a deed poll, a sworn affidavit and a newspaper publication, with gazette publication for formal proof. Institutions generally require the newspaper page and the affidavit together. As everywhere, the legal act is the easy part: the work is aligning every identity document afterwards.
Key points
| Procedure | A deed poll, a sworn affidavit and a newspaper publication, with gazette publication for formal proof |
|---|---|
| Authority | National Population Commission and state registries |
| Children | Consent of parents or guardians required |
| Marriage | A spouse's surname may usually be adopted on production of the marriage certificate |
| Documents to update | National identity document, passport, bank records, employer, qualifications |
| Proof | Keep the original instrument permanently — it links the old and new identities |
| Affidavit and publication | A sworn affidavit and newspaper notice are the standard route |
| Gazette | Publication in an official gazette is required by some institutions |
| Married names | Widely used, with the marriage certificate as evidence |
In practice
- Get several certified copies of the deed, order or certificate — every institution wants its own.
- Update in a sensible order: passport or national ID first, then bank, employer, licences, insurers and qualifications.
- Keep the old and new documents together permanently: proof of the link between the two names is sometimes needed years later.
- Tell credit reference agencies, or a name change can look like an identity mismatch.
- Swear the affidavit at a High Court registry and keep certified copies.
- Publish in a national newspaper; banks routinely ask for the cutting.
Cost and coverage
Administrative and publication fees are generally modest.
Recent changes
Mismatches between educational certificates and identity documents are the most common practical problem, and are easier to fix soon after the change than years later.
Where to go
- National Population Commission and state registries for the formal change.
- Passport authority for travel documents.
- Educational institutions and professional bodies for qualification records.
Worth knowing
Update qualifications and professional registrations at the same time as identity documents. A degree in a former name with no documentary link is a recurring obstacle for jobs and visas. Institutions ask for different combinations of affidavit, newspaper notice and gazette. Obtain all three at the outset to avoid repeated visits.
Official sources and links
- Nigeria.gov.ng — official government portal