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LLI treats marriage challenges, recognises still standing couples

By Maria Diamond
20 October 2018   |   4:00 am
Lasting Love International (LLI) recently organized a Couples Event and Award Night in Lagos to help spouses overcome their difficulties...

Winners of Blended Family Award, Feyisayo and Jedidiah Akinsola (left), award presenter couple, and Funmi Adeyi; Founder, Lasting Love International (LLI), at Couples Event and Award Night in Lagos

Lasting Love International (LLI) recently organized a Couples Event and Award Night in Lagos to help spouses overcome their difficulties, as well as appreciate those who have successfully pulled through the challenges with awards.

The UK-based convener, Funmi Adeyi, explained that though marriage appears a fairytale for singles who crave and desire the institute, but for spouses who have been there and still there, it’s more than a blissful sojourn, neither a bed filled with roses, it is challenging.

“The concept of LLI is based on the fact that we have lots of crumbling marriages because a lot of these younger generations do not have in-depth understanding of what it entails. They only believe in the regular procession of life, graduate from school, own a home and get married. They lack the basic understanding and requirements to make marriage work.

“People should seek understanding and counsel for marriage, for couples having issue, it is important for them not to cover up what they’re going through, it kills. There is an explosion of depression as a result of bitterness bottled in, so people should seek understanding of how to best resolve their issue” Adeyi said.

She further explained why she initiated LLI: “As a young married woman then, I was the president of women in my local church and a lot of them were having issues, we would talk about it and sort it out, but I felt within me that I did not have enough understanding to help them out. So I decided to platform older and matured couples that would enlighten young couples and answer all their questions relating to the challenges they face in their marriage.

“A successful relationship is not one that is devoid of problems or failures, but one that has series of issues but have managed to fix it all to make it work. My aim was to have as many people as possible to attend and see them encouraged with stories of other couples and that was fulfilled.”

She added that the focus was not really on the recognition or award, but the content, stories of the couples, their challenges and how they pulled through it all, so people can gain insight, understanding, empowerment and ignited hope to make their marriage work as the institution is originated by God.

“LLI categories of award is not the usual beauty or romantic award, but tenacity award to turbulence overcomers. One to a couple who had a long delay in childbirth but they stood firm, it was not without challenges but they pulled through after several years of waiting.

“Another category is the blended family award to a couple who had experienced failed marriage but got another opportunity to remarry with added responsibility of bringing children from both partner’s past relationship and they are all growing together as one family.

“Then, the lone parent award, to a woman who was bereaved at an early age but managed to successfully bring up her children with bravery and confidence, today the children are all well placed and have achieved in all ramification” Adeyi explained.

Feyisayo and Jedidiah Akinsola won the striking blended family award, as a couple that have been divorced from both previous marriages and eventually got married to each other, blending in children from previous failed marriages.

Grecelda Ogbang, an LLI participant said: “Tonight stands for family, love and relationship. The convener has done a good job with the entire makeup of the event, more importantly the depiction that people can be different in their personalities yet, be an item if they understand each other’s strength and weaknesses” she said.

Mrs. Chigozie, Maduagula, a Barrister said she and her husband were invited by one of the recipients for the award but discovered the importance of ensuring cordiality in marriage and the need for couples to strive to make their marriages work.

“This event brought back memories of why I am with my spouse and made me reevaluate the reasons I said “yes” in the first place. It has also enhanced my thinking and belief in the fact that my marriage is something I should cherish, always fight to keep and protect because it is God’s idea and it is beautiful,” she said.

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