A toast to ‘rock solid’ Nollywood marriages

The year 2024 was a good one for marriages in Nollywood. No major break ups. Even if there were, it wouldn’t be compared to what happened between 2019 and 2023 when a number of celebrities took to the social media to either dissolve their marriage or announce their separation. In 2024, marriages waxed stronger in Nollywood. Month after month, fans witnessed how they marked their wedding anniversaries on their social media platforms. From a long list, Moviedom salutes these couples who have continued to be stronger together…

Omotola Jalade, Captain Matthew Ekeinde
Accomplished actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, and her husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, have been married for over two decades and they are still counting. In fact, their success story as a couple has been an inspiration to many. A multiple award-winning actress, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) and a philanthropist, Omo T, as the actress is affectionately called by her fans, has consistently maintained that for her and the father of her children, divorce will never be an option. The actress of vast credit has consistently maintained that her marriage to Captain Ekeinde 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. Her consistent advice to young couples has always been “couples must try and be so close to each other and must not allow a third party in their marriage.”

Norbert, Gloria Young
The method actor, Norbert Young, and his better half, Gloria Young nee Anozie, have been married for close to two decade now and they have continued to live happily as man and wife and as parents. 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.

Omoni, Nnamdi Oboli
Award-winning Delta State-born actress, producer and director, Omoni, and the amiable Nnamdi Oboli have been married for close to three decades now and they have continued to be stronger together. Nnamdi and Omoni who are blessed with children, met in 1996, but they started dating four years later when she was in final year at the University of Benin. She recalled that Nnamdi proposed two weeks into the relationship and the rest as they say is history. Today, the grand parents are ‘the best of friends’ and even Omoni declared that she could never have found someone more suited to her than Nnamdi. By far, one of the busiest actress and off stage personality working on the turf, Omoni who has won both local and international awards for her efforts as an actress and producer attributes the success of her marriage to the ‘grace of God’, effective communication between her and Nnamdi and knowing her Nnamdi’s ‘likes and dislikes’

Bob Manuel and Cassandra Udokwu
Notable actor and politician Bob Manuel Udokwu and his adorable wife, Cassandra, have been married for over two decades and they are still counting. 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. Anytime Bob has an opportunity to speak about his wife and mother of his children, he lavishes her with thanks for the stability and success of the union. Bob would always explains 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. “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. We dialogue and show mutual respect to each other and for us it is till death,” he says, stressing that they have never contemplated and will never contemplate separation or divorce.

Olu, Joke Jacobs
Olu and Joke Jacobs have been man and wife for close to four decades. For these couple, both of who are iconic actors, divorce or separation has never been an option. Indeed, 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 three decades and they are still counting. 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 as they age gracefully.

Others on the long list: Ejike and Ogechi Asiegbu, Zack and Ngozi Orji, Victor and Rosaline Osuagwu, Richard and Jumobi Damijo, Paul and Barrister Chibuzo Obazele, Francis Duru and wife, Tony and Patsy Umez, Alex Usifo- Umaigbo and wife, Desmond Elliot and Wife, Emeka and Stella Enyiocha, etc.