Digital Wealth and Death: Estate Planning in Nigeria

As Nigeria’s digital economy expands and its legal framework evolves, understanding what happens to your digital assets—ranging from WhatsApp and Facebook accounts to Bitcoin wallets—after death has become essential. Nigerian lawyer Stella Justice emphasizes a simple truth: treat your online assets the same way you treat houses, land, or cars—by including them in your estate plan.

The New Face of Wealth

Millions of Nigerians are building legacies online, from YouTube channels and Facebook communities to cryptocurrency portfolios. These assets now carry real financial and sentimental value. Yet without proper planning, families risk losing access to online wealth, cherished memories, and intellectual property when a loved one passes away. Recent legal reforms and global best practices make digital estate planning more urgent than ever.

The Rise of Digital Assets in Nigeria

The Legal Shift: ISA 2025

Nigeria’s Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 marks a turning point by officially recognizing virtual assets—including cryptocurrency and digital accounts—as legal securities. Under this framework:

Assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, and digital business holdings are now treated as property that can be inherited, transferred, or included in wills.

Oversight of compliance and succession for digital wealth rests with the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Protecting Your Digital Legacy

Legal Advice from Nigerian Experts

Include Digital Assets in Your Will
List social media accounts, cryptocurrency wallets, emails, and online businesses in your will or trust documents.

Maintain Secure Password Records
Keep updated login details in an encrypted vault with clear access instructions for your heirs or lawyer.

Appoint a Digital Executor
Select a trusted, tech-savvy individual to manage your online estate after you pass.

 Use Legacy Tools

Facebook Legacy Contact: Assign someone to manage or memorialize your account.

Google Inactive Account Manager: Set up automatic data transfer if your account becomes inactive.

Regularly Update Records
Review your digital estate plan frequently to reflect changing accounts, assets, and passwords.

Conclusion

Nigerian lawyer Stella Justice has brought much-needed clarity to the overlooked issue of digital inheritance. Her practical guidance ensures that Nigerians can safeguard not only their physical assets but also their growing digital empires. In a modern world where online legacies carry immense financial and emotional value, her advocacy is both timely and vital. By encouraging digital estate planning, Justice is helping families protect wealth, preserve memories, and secure a future where no digital legacy is lost.