Nigeria’s Lavish Weddings Abroad: A missed opportunity for economic growth 

In the past eight months, Nigeria has witnessed two of its most extravagant celebrity weddings, both exceeding expectations in opulence but falling short in benefiting the local economy.

The first was the Chivido white wedding of music superstar David Adeleke, known as Davido, and his wife Chioma Rowland, held in Miami, Florida, in August 2025. Reports indicate the event cost around 3.7 million dollars in cash alone, covering accommodations that ran as high as 4,000 dollars per night for guests over three days.

Davido and Chioma

The second, dubbed LoveIsEazi, united musician Tosin Ajibade, better known as Mr Eazi, and actress Temi Otedola in a series of ceremonies spanning Monaco, Dubai, and Iceland throughout 2025, with total expenditures estimated at 14 to 15 million dollars. Together, these celebrations likely surpassed 20 million dollars in spending, drawing international attention to Nigeria’s elite. Yet, while the couples and their guests reveled in global glamour, the nation’s economy absorbed a significant hit. These events highlight a troubling trend where high-profile Nigerians opt for foreign destinations, draining potential revenue from tourism, hospitality, and event services that could bolster local businesses.

The decision to host such weddings abroad stems partly from Nigeria’s persistent infrastructure deficits and security concerns, which deter even its wealthiest citizens from choosing home soil.

Imagine the influx of dollars if these multi-million-dollar affairs had unfolded in Lagos or Abuja: hotels fully booked, airlines ferrying VIPs, and local caterers, florists, and entertainers reaping rewards. Instead, the funds flowed outward, to places like Miami’s Mana Wynwood venue for Chivido or Iceland’s dramatic landscapes for LoveIsEazi’s white wedding segment.

Security remains a core issue; Nigeria’s Federal Government has invested in initiatives like the Safe City project in Abuja, but incidents of unrest and inadequate policing continue to erode confidence. For audiences at these weddings, which included billionaires, politicians, and global stars, the risk of disruptions or inadequate emergency response feels too high.

This isn’t just about personal preference, it’s a business reality: foreign locales offer reliable power grids, seamless logistics, and ironclad safety nets, ensuring events run without hitches.

Femi Otedola walking daughter, Temi down the isle

In contrast, Nigeria’s power outages and traffic snarls could turn a dream day into a logistical nightmare, costing organizers more in contingencies and scaring off sponsors. The result? Lost tax revenues from value-added services, forgone jobs in event planning, and a missed chance to showcase Nigeria as a viable wedding tourism hub, which globally generates billions annually.

Take the LoveIsEazi wedding as a case in point. The civil ceremony in Monaco might have been driven by legal considerations, given the couple’s substantial assets and the ease of international recognition for such unions under Nigerian law, which allows for foreign validations without much hassle. But the white wedding in Iceland, at the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church, raises questions about why Nigeria couldn’t suffice. The country boasts stunning ancient church facilities that rival any European counterpart in aesthetic appeal and historical depth. For instance, the Christ Church Cathedral in Lagos, established in 1869, offers Gothic architecture with soaring arches and intricate stained glass, perfect for a romantic, timeless ceremony. Similarly, the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Onitsha, dating back to the 19th century, features colonial-era stonework and serene riverside views that could evoke a sense of enduring legacy. Even the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, a modern yet majestic structure symbolizing national unity, provides grand interiors suitable for high-society gatherings.

These venues, maintained by bodies like the Anglican Communion or the Catholic Archdiocese, are not just relics; they are operational hubs with capacities for hundreds, yet they sit underutilized for elite events due to fears over surrounding infrastructure. Choosing Hallgrimskirkja, with its basalt-inspired tower overlooking Reykjavik, underscores a preference for perceived stability over local charm, siphoning away what could have been millions in venue fees, decorations, and ancillary spending.

Femi Otedola and son-in-law, Mr. Eazi

This pattern extends beyond these two weddings, reflecting a broader economic hemorrhage from high-profile destination choices. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and chairman of the Dangote Group, recently promised to host a lavish party for the Ajibade couple, Mr Eazi and Temi Otedola, upon the birth of their first child, allowing them to pick any location from Paris to Miami or, anywhere. That it never crossed his mind to insist on Nigeria speaks volumes about the nation’s diminished reputation as a safe, luxurious venue. Other potential spots like the Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, with its misty plateaus, cable car rides, and waterfall backdrops, could host unforgettable mountain weddings without the need for transatlantic flights. The Eti-Osa Creek area in Lagos offers mangrove-lined rivers ideal for intimate boat-side receptions, while places like the Awhum Monastery in Enugu provide secluded, spiritually charged settings amid lush hills.

Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi, with its hot springs and wildlife safaris, screams adventure romance. These sites, promoted by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, are primed for business but languish due to poor roads, erratic electricity, and security lapses that make insurers wary. For a business newspaper audience, this translates to tangible losses: the wedding industry could inject up to 500 million dollars yearly into GDP if infrastructure matched ambition, creating chains of supply from local artisans to transport firms.

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Compounding the issue is the snub to Nigerian vendors, signaling a deep-seated lack of trust in local talent to deliver flawless execution for these mega-events. In the LoveIsEazi wedding, not a single prominent local event provider was highlighted; instead, American photographer Jose Villa was booked for 50,000 dollars, and South Korean designer Sohee Park crafted custom pieces, alongside Italian firm Fendi for bespoke attire.

This model mirrors the Chivido affair, where international names dominated: Miami-based Petal Productions handled flowers, and photographer Andreas Sellinidis captured the moments. Nigerian designers, photographers, and planners, from Lagos’s bustling event scene to Abuja’s creative hubs, boast world-class skills honed for Afrobeats glamour and cultural fusion.

Davido and Chioma

Yet, the elite’s preference for foreigners suggests doubts over reliability, perhaps rooted in past failures from power cuts derailing tech setups or supply chain breakdowns. For businesses, this means untapped markets: empowering local vendors could foster a self-sustaining ecosystem, reducing import dependencies and building exportable expertise. The Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation must prioritize certifications and incentives to bridge this gap, turning Nigeria into a net exporter of wedding innovation rather than a passive spectator.

Ultimately, these weddings expose Nigeria’s economic vulnerabilities in a way that demands urgent reform. With security enhancements via the Nigeria Police Force and infrastructure pushes under the Ministry of Works and Housing, the country could reclaim its share of the global events market. Until then, the dollars keep flowing out, leaving local entrepreneurs to wonder what might have been.