A double wedding in southwestern Nigeria has drawn international attention after the British royal family issued a formal message of congratulations. The ceremony, held in Lagos on Saturday, united two sets of identical twins: the Chukwu sisters and the Okonkwo brothers. Both couples exchanged vows in a joint civil service before a gathering of several hundred guests.
The royal message, conveyed through the British High Commission in Abuja, described the union as a symbol of unity and family bonds. It stopped short of endorsing any specific cultural tradition or commenting on the rare occurrence of twin-to-twin marriage. The Nigerian government has not issued an official statement, but local officials welcomed the attention brought to the country’s diverse marriage customs.
The event has revived discussion about the legal and social implications of such unions, which are not explicitly prohibited under Nigerian law but remain uncommon. Analysts note that the royal endorsement carries soft power implications, reinforcing ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, a former colony. The couples have declined media interviews, citing a desire for privacy.
The wedding comes amid a broader push by Nigerian authorities to promote traditional values and family structures as part of a national identity campaign.
