- As Bolutife Margret, Chukwuemezie Kamanu join in holy matrimony
The Bishop of Ifako Diocese of African Church Cathedral, Lagos State, Rt. Reverend Samuel A. Adeyemi, has attributed marriage failures to absence of foundation elements.
Bishop Adeyemi said intending couples must build their relationship on strong key principles while mutual understanding will also ensure a strong and lasting relationship.
The cleric said this during the wedding church service held for Bolutife Margret and Chukwuemezie Kamanu at the Ifako Diocese of African Church Cathedral, Lagos recently.
He urged new couples to build their marriage on forgiveness, noting that this will help greatly in ensuring the success of marital unions.
He commended the father of the bride, who is the Chairman / CEO of Glister Success Ltd, Engineer (Chief) Bamidele Babatunde and the parents of the bridegroom, Professor Chuks Kamanu and Dr (Mrs.) Amaka Kamanu for raising good children.
The cleric also emphasized the need for couples to build relational tolerance which will according to him help to transform a relationship into a safe haven where the husband and the wife will feel valued and respected.
“All these babas and mamas (fathers and mothers) that we are seeing here who are actively in marriage for 40, 50 years, it is because they have taken it as their priority not that they don’t offend themselves.
“Marriage is a long journey, it is for better, for worse. So, in all the activities of your marriage always forgive as thy lord forgives you,” he said.
Rt. Reverend Samuel A. Adeyemi also emphasized the importance of unity in marriage which will according to him make two people become one in purpose, vision, and partnership noting that this will keep a marital union strong and invulnerable.
“The Bible says two are better than one, a strong brick is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 emphasizes the strength, support, and greater reward found in companionship over being alone.
“Pray together, always pray. Pray in the morning before you go to work, when you get to your work place, talk to your God , when you return home, talk to your God, because He answers prayers, and He will never deny His people.
“Make Christ the center of your home, make him your decisions, make him your finances and make him your future that is the first rule, make sure you make God the center of your home, don’t say ‘yes, I’ve had him or her’ and because of that you want to neglect God who has chosen him or her for you. So, always build your home on Christ, always refill your marriage with love, sacrifice and mutual submission.
“So, the first kissing today, don’t let it stop and don’t put yourself in the position that when your man want to kiss you and you say ‘no no no, I don’t have time now, go and do whatever you want to do’, do not do that . As you have started with it and we’ve seen it, let it continue with love,” he said.
The Bishop also emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation for a successful marriage submitting that weak foundations are responsible for marital failures in society.
“Marriage is not a contract based on exchanging emotions but rather it is ordained by God and He wants us to move closer to somebody that will be representing us in one way or the other, if you’re not somewhere and your wife is there, then she’s representing you, and if a woman is not somewhere and her husband is there, he is also representing her.
“So, God has a purpose for that union and that is why He says ‘a man will leave his father and mother to be united with his wife, and become one flesh” Reverend Adeyemi submitted.
“Make sure you build your marriage on a solid foundation. That’s the first rule, and you have started today. So, the first day that you saw yourself admiring the girl and also said ‘I want to marry you, I want you to be my wife’ and she said ‘yes, I will be your wife and you will be my husband’, that was the foundation but what we see nowadays is that after some months some marriages have scattered, in that situation we need to check and assess the foundations,” he added.
Chairman of Sino Trust Mining Engineering Company Ltd, Lagos, Chief Alex Wang, who was the chairman of the wedding reception, noted that a Yoruba family releasing their daughter in marriage to an Igbo man brings him great pleasure.
Calling this a welcome development, he added that cross-cultural weddings which feature marriages between individuals from distinct cultural and ethnic backgrounds have helped to enhance unity by building bridges between families and communities, fostering understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating stronger, more inclusive societies.
Chief Alex Wang added that cross-cultural weddings must be encouraged to bridge divides and build understanding across diverse ethnic groups.
Dignitaries at the event include Governor Alex Otti’s Special Adviser on Health, Dr Mrs Ngozi Azodo, former Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, Chief Alex Wang , who is the Chairman of Sino Trust Mining Engineering Company Ltd, Lagos, Mrs. H.N Dosumu, CEO, Gemirald Logistics, and Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Adewuyi, CEO, Modus Stores Ltd.
Others are Mrs. Okey Maduewesi, CEO, Zaron Group of Companies, Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oyo State, Oba Bashir Olalekan Abioye, Onigbaye of Igbaye, Osun State, Oba Joseph Okunola Oni, Alajaawa of Ajaawa, Oyo State, Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji, Olulamokun of Yakoyo, Osun State, Oba Oyewole Oyediran and Professor Mrs Assumpta Chapp-Jundo.
Also present were Architect and Dr (Mrs) Mezie Nwokolo, Sir and Lady Okey Moka, Head of Kamanu family, Mr Godwin Kamanu, Professor Shina Oladokun , Professor (Mrs.) Regina Oladokun, UCH, Ibadan, Engineer Yomi Oloyede, CEO , Yomi Oloye & Company, Barrister Johnson Eroyalesun.