Please, could you tell us more about yourself?
My name is Omolola Ayodele, a freelance presenter with Radio Lagos. I am a native of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State. I come from the family of Pa James Osho and Madam Juliana Adeyemi, both of whom are from Ikere-Ekiti.
I am the last child in a family of 15 – five brothers and nine sisters.
I attended Holy Trinity Anglican Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Ikorodu High School, Ikorodu, Lagos; and Radlag Language Institute.
I enjoy singing, especially songs by Tope Alabi.
How long have you been married?
I have been married for 20 years.
How did you meet your husband?
We met at one of his nephews’ birthday parties, where I was invited as a guest.
When you met, did you have the feeling that the relationship would mature into marriage?
Ours was love at first sight. The very first day we met, he told himself that I would be his wife. On my part, I was concerned about the age difference because he is seven years older than I am. Today, the rest is history, and I give all the glory to Almighty God.
How did you react when he proposed to you?
I was very happy because it was an answered prayer.
What were your parents’ reactions to the proposal?
They were very happy and welcomed the idea, especially my mother. His parents were also delighted and fully supported our union. His mother is the kind of mother-in-law every woman would pray to have.
How many children do you have?
By the grace of God, I have one child.
In those years of marriage, what would you say were the best moments you shared with your husband?
I would say the best moments we have shared are the quality time we have spent together, our deep connection, the long conversations and gists, the laughter shared, and the journeys taken together.
What advice would you give to younger couples aspiring to have a long-lasting marriage like yours?
For me, tolerance is the most important advice I can give to young couples. In addition to tolerance, I would encourage them to practise patience and endurance, maintain good communication, and show mutual respect.
What do you think about the increasing number of marriage breakups in Nigeria, and what would you recommend?
It is very disturbing to see the high rate of marriage breakups in the country, and I believe it is affecting many aspects of society.
In my opinion, part of the problem is the growing 50/50 ideology that many young couples are trying to practise today. There is also the issue of inadequate communication and the failure to make Christ the cornerstone of the marriage.
Other contributing factors include a lack of forgiveness, peer pressure and undue interference from family members.
As a recommendation, I believe young couples should build a strong friendship before marriage, develop healthy communication habits, and cultivate the spirit of forgiveness.
Praying together as a family and loving one another in Christ can also help reduce the rate of marriage breakdowns. Transparency between partners is equally important.
I believe that if couples, both young and old, apply these principles, many marriages can be strengthened and preserved.
