The Igboman who embraces Christianity wants to remain a Christian without rejecting his Igbo identity and culture. In view of this, there is an urgent need to foster and promote marriage preparation in Igboland as a way of rediscovering the Christian and traditional values of marriage as an institution. This aims at providing the ambience and opportunity for prospective couples to establish successful marriages and their stability in Igboland. In this regard, as an implementation to its renewed meaning and understanding of marriage, the Church recognizes the necessity for effective and adequate marriage preparation and pastoral care of marriage. The study attempts to give the influence of theological and canonical enrichments in the meaning and understanding of the matrimonial sacrament upon the legal provisions, guidelines and programs for marriage preparation in the Igbo dioceses of Nigeria.

Paulinus Chibuike Nwaigwe, native of Ahiazu Mbaise in Imo State (Nigeria), is a priest of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy Congregation in Nigeria. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St Joseph Major Seminary Ikot Ekpene. At the University of Würzburg (Germany), he earned his doctorate in Catholic Theology, specializing in Canon Law.