Correction, Not Change: The Legal Truth About Name Errors
Legal Accuracy and Public Misconception
Change or Correction? Understanding the Difference
EVERY day, people spend unnecessary money and lose valuable time because of a basic legal misunderstanding: not every name mismatch requires a change of name affidavit. When the name on your BVN does not match your bank or official records, it does not automatically mean your name has changed.
A name change is a conscious, intentional act. A name error is a mistake. The law treats them differently.
What a Change of Name Really Means
A change of name affidavit is appropriate only when a person deliberately adopts a new identity. This may follow marriage, divorce, religious reasons, or personal preference. The affidavit publicly declares that the person formerly known by one name is now known by another.
In such cases, the old name is legally abandoned in favour of a new one.
When the Problem Is Simply an Error
Most BVN-related name issues fall into the category of mistakes, not changes. These include missing letters, incorrect spelling, rearranged names, omitted middle names, or the use of initials instead of full names.
In these situations, the individual has not changed their name. What exists is an administrative or clerical error that needs correction.
Why Institutions Reject the Wrong Affidavit
Banks and government agencies often reject change of name affidavits for BVN corrections because the document does not address the actual issue. The affidavit contradicts the facts. You cannot “change” what was never intentionally altered.
The Practical Takeaway
Affidavits are precise legal tools, not generic solutions. Using the wrong one wastes money, causes delays, and leads to repeated rejections. Before signing any affidavit, ask one simple question: did I change my name, or am I correcting a mistake?
