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A Toast To ‘A Decade Plus’ Celebrity Couples On Valentine Day

By Shaibu Husseini
20 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
IT was St. Valentine day on February 14 and so some top Nollywood celebrities particularly those categorized as ‘celebrity couples’ said they actually stepped out to commemorate the day. A few of them who volunteered comments on the significance of the day confirmed that they took some time off work, to remind themselves of those…

Bob-Manuel-and-Wife

IT was St. Valentine day on February 14 and so some top Nollywood celebrities particularly those categorized as ‘celebrity couples’ said they actually stepped out to commemorate the day. A few of them who volunteered comments on the significance of the day confirmed that they took some time off work, to remind themselves of those ‘secrets’ that have kept them together as man and wife.  Although not peculiar to the entertainment industry as it is prevalent in other industries, divorce and cases of separation abound in the entertainment industry. There is no season without news that a lifetime relationship has either packed up or is at the verge of collapse. Yet, there are celebrity marriages that have spanned decades and are still waxing stronger. From an in exhaustive list of screen celebrity couples, Shaibu Husseini identifies and picks for mention, eight of the celebrated marriages that have spanned over a decade. There is a consensus among observers that these marriages have become something of a good example of what celebrity relationships should be like. 

Olu And Joke Jacobs

IF an award for the long-standing celebrity and Nollywood couple is to be given, then it should rightly go to Oludotun and Ajoke Jacobs. ‘Uncle Olu’ and ‘Auntie Joke’ as younger colleagues call them have been married for over 30 years. Interestingly, they are both active players in the industry and very busy at that. They have both featured in many Nigerian movies, participated in several projects and have won both local and international awards including receiving the national honours of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR). In spite of the temptation that comes with the terrain, Olu and Joke Jacobs have continued to wax stronger together. To prove that for them, it was for better for worse and like an observer quipped, the ‘older the sweeter’, the couple in 2011 called out friends, colleagues and family members to a quiet but unique wedding anniversary ceremony where they renewed their marital vows. The couple explained that they held the event to remind themselves that theirs was a total commitment to each other for the rest of their lives. Nothing has changed between Uncle Olu and Auntie Joke whose marriage is blessed with children.  They have continued to wax stronger as they age gracefully. 

Bob Manuel And Cassandra Udokwu

JUST this Thursday February 19, notable actor and politician Bob Manuel Udokwu and his adorable wife of over a decade and half Cassandra called a quiet dinner event to mark 15 years of blissful relationship. Being a top player in the entertainment industry where practitioners are often vulnerable to distraction, observers consider the tall, handsome, dashing and well-built actor as one who can be considered very lucky in his marital life. At the event held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos, Bob who is back to his beat as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State on Entertainment gave the always gorgeously dressed Cassandra and mother of his two children yet, most of the credits for the stability and success of the union. According to the actor and show host ‘’my wife is not only a homemaker, but she is a friend, lover, wife, mother, partner. Adviser, confidant and many more positive attributes rolled into one’’. Bob had explained that one of the reasons they walked this far together, is the commitment they made right from the very beginning that they must make their marriage work. ‘’We dialogue and show mutual respect to each other’’ he said while his lovely wife nodded in agreement. Madam Cassandra had earlier remarked that for them, ‘it is till death’ as they have never contemplated and will never contemplate separation or divorce. 

Omotola Jalade And Capt. Matthew Ekeinde

TALK of a diva and an accomplished actress and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde’s name will naturally pop up. Her name will also pop up when you think of a personality who is successful as an entertainer as she is in her marriage. Mother of four beautiful children-2 boys and 2 girls, who has consistently maintained that ‘divorce is not an option’ for her and her husband, Omo T or Omo Sexy as the actress is affectionately called by her fans has been married to Captain Mathew Ekeinde for close to 19 years now and their marriage have continued to wax stronger by the day. In fact their success story as a couple has been an inspiration to many. Omo T recently revealed that her marriage has worked and will continue to work because for her, Captain Ekeinde whom she affectionately calls ‘Honey Boy’ is and will always remain the head of the home while she will always be the assistant. ‘’I don’t believe in gender equality. I don’t believe that God made man and woman to be equal in any way. I believe that in any organised institution, there is always a head and an assistant. It doesn’t mean that one should take another for granted or disrespect the other. I believe that the husband is the head of the home and the wife an assistant’’ the Time 100 personality said, adding that couples must try and be so close to each other and must not allow a third party in their marriage. 

Patrick And Iretiola Doyle

PATRICK and Iretiola Doyle are two other ‘love birds’ and off and on screen celebrities who have been married for over decade. Both of them are top entertainment personalities. They met on the job and have remained inseparable since they exchanged marital vows. 

Ejike And Ogechi Asiegbu 

POPULAR actor and former President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Ejike Asiegbu and his adorable wife Ogechi Asiegbu have been married for close to two decades now. They are hardly talked about in the gossip press because their marriage that is blessed with children has lasted without any scandal. 

Zack And Ngozi Orji 

POPULAR Nollywood actor Zack Orji has been married to Ngozi, his beautiful wife and mother of his three lovely children for close to two and a half decades now. Both of them are notable players in the industry (Ngozi is a actress), but it is Zack who is more on the field. But they have both lived as a perfect couple, as ‘Siamese twins’ as an observer quipped and they have carried on so well as man and wife. 

Jide And Henrieta Kosoko

THE marriage between popular actor Prince Jide Kosoko and popular Yoruba actress Henrietta Jide Kosoko is listed amongst the celebrated marriages in Nollywood. Prince Kosoko and Madam Henrietta have been married for close to three decades now and they are still counting.  Though Henrietta is not Prince Kosoko’s only wife, the Delta State born actress attributes the success of their marriage to the love they shared from the day they met, respect for each other and understanding. 

Norbert And Gloria Young

THE method actor Norbert Young and his better half Gloria Young nee Anozie have been married for over a decade now and they have continued to live happily as man and wife and as parents to their beautiful children. Not a few people thought they were going to be married for this long but they have shown that it takes only two to tango and that the survival of any marriage is not in the hands of book makers but in the hands of those who took the decision to become man and wife. 

CelebrityExtra And More…

Tope Oshin Ogun Is Back From Berlin

TOP female screen director Tope Oshin Ogun returned and went on straight to a movie shoot from Berlin, Germany where she had gone to be a part of the 65th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival. Tope, married to the screen writer Yinka Ogun, was one of the four talents selected from Nigeria and one of the two hundred talents selected amongst over 15,000 talents from around the world to be part of the Berlinale Talent Campus, a training segment of the ten day long film festival which closed last Sunday.  Looking fresh and charged up, Tope who has directed several episodes of Tinsel and who is currently calling the shots on the new ‘must watch’ soapie Hotel Majestic disclosed that with the training she got in Berlin, she will return to Berlin in about two years time with a film that will place Nigeria on the lips of moviegoers in Europe. Go Topsy!

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