Pastor Sarah Omakwu Sparks Debate After Calling It ‘Foolish’ to Name Parents or Siblings as Next of Kin
Pastor Sarah Omakwu, Founder and Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, has stirred widespread debate after declaring that married people should never list their parents or siblings as their next of kin.
The pastor made the remarks while addressing her congregation, insisting that once a person gets married, their spouse and children become their primary family and should take priority in official records.
Her comments, which have since gone viral across social media platforms, have triggered mixed reactions, with many Nigerians debating both the moral and legal implications of naming a next of kin.
Pastor Warns Men Against Choosing Brothers or Fathers as Next of Kin
Speaking directly to married men, Omakwu advised them against naming their fathers or brothers as next of kin on employment, banking, or other official documents.
According to her, a brother’s first responsibility will always be to his own family rather than his sibling’s children.
“Men, you don’t put your brother or your father as your next of kin. Your brother is not going to take care of your children. He will take care of his children first before your children.”
She described the practice as unwise, stressing that marriage changes family priorities.
“It is a foolish thing to put your brother and say, ‘But they are my people.’ No, your people are your wife and your children first. They are your next of kin—not your mother, not your father, not your brother.”
Married Women Told to Prioritise Their Husbands
The cleric extended the same advice to married women, stating that a husband should be recognised as the next of kin instead of sisters, parents, or other relatives.
She also discouraged married couples from listing multiple people as next of kin, insisting that only one person should be named.
According to Omakwu, choosing a spouse as the sole next of kin aligns with what she described as God’s intention for marriage.
“Don’t put two people’s names on the thing. Put only your wife’s name. That is the will of God. Any other thing is outside the mind of God.”
Social Media Divided Over Pastor’s Statement
The pastor’s comments quickly ignited conversations online, with Nigerians expressing sharply different opinions.
Many supported her position, arguing that marriage establishes a new family unit and that spouses should naturally come before parents or siblings in important decisions.
Others, however, questioned her interpretation, pointing out that the phrase “next of kin” is frequently misunderstood and does not necessarily determine who inherits a deceased person’s property.
The debate also prompted fresh discussions about estate planning, wills, and inheritance laws in Nigeria.
Legal Meaning of ‘Next of Kin’ Explained
Legal experts have long maintained that naming someone as a next of kin does not automatically make that person the beneficiary of a deceased individual’s assets.
The designation is generally used for identification, emergency contact purposes, or administrative communication by organisations such as employers, hospitals, banks, and insurance providers.
Inheritance of property is instead governed by a valid will or, where no will exists, by applicable succession and inheritance laws.
As a result, while many married individuals choose their spouses as next of kin, Nigerian law does not impose a blanket requirement that every married person must do so.
Renewed Attention on Estate Planning
The discussion surrounding Omakwu’s remarks has also drawn attention to the importance of proper estate planning.
Legal professionals continue to encourage Nigerians to prepare valid wills if they want to clearly determine how their assets should be shared after death, rather than relying on assumptions about the legal effect of naming a next of kin.
With opinions continuing to pour in, the pastor’s remarks have become one of the latest topics fuelling nationwide conversations on marriage, family responsibilities, and inheritance rights in Nigeria.
