A Nigerian man residing in the United Kingdom has called off his wedding plans after receiving a traditional bride price list amounting to approximately N3.5 million from his fiancée’s family.
The man, whose story social media influencer Princess Adeola shared on her X (formerly Twitter) handle, revealed that the exorbitant demands left him heartbroken. The bride’s price list reportedly included items such as drinks, livestock, clothing, and cash gifts for various extended family members.
According to Adeola, the man had been deeply committed to the woman, despite the challenges of their long-distance relationship. He had plans to bring her to the UK and fund her education but was dismayed to find that she supported her family’s demands, citing Nigeria’s harsh economic realities.
In his frustration, the man described the bride price list as akin to “selling a child” and questioned the financial strain such demands would place on the start of their marriage.
Princess Adeola shared her account of the man’s ordeal:
“There’s this guy on my platform who met a lady here in Nigeria while he’s in the UK. Despite the challenges of a long-distance relationship, he was committed to her. He even sought my advice, and I encouraged him to go for it. But yesterday, he reached out to me, distraught, after receiving a bride price list from her family totaling N3.5 million.”
She continued:
“His pain wasn’t just the list itself but the fact that the woman he loves supports her family’s demands, claiming everything is expensive in Nigeria. He said, ‘Why should anyone demand such an outrageous amount just for marriage? Doesn’t that set the tone for the man to treat her like he ‘bought’ her?’”
The man reportedly told Adeola that he had decided to end the relationship, saying he would cry, heal, and move on.
The incident has sparked discussions on social media about the relevance and potential drawbacks of traditional bride price practices. Critics argue that excessive demands could discourage suitors and diminish the value of marriage as a union of love and mutual respect.
Adeola expressed disappointment over the situation, emphasizing that the man had genuine intentions for the relationship.
“This man had genuine plans to take her abroad and pay for her education. Now, because of greed, the family has lost a good man. I feel bad for the lady—if only she had a more understanding family and stood up for herself. She’s about to lose a good man without even knowing it.”
