Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwo has shared a heartfelt account of her marriage, revealing that she got married at the age of 19 through an arrangement made by her parents.
The actress’s story was shared via a verified X account, Igbo History and Fact, where she spoke candidly about her early fears and how love eventually grew in a union she did not personally choose.
“Marriage found me at just 19. It wasn’t my choice, my parents arranged it. At first, I was scared. I didn’t know how to love a man I didn’t choose,” Ozokwo said.
According to her, the relationship blossomed over time, and she and her husband spent 23 years together. She disclosed that her husband battled illness for 15 years before his death in 2000.
“But as time passed, love grew. We spent 23 years together. He was sick for 15 of those years, and in 2000, he passed away,” she added.
Ozokwo revealed that the marriage produced three children, and she later adopted five others. Sadly, one of the adopted children died, leaving her with seven children in total.
“We had three beautiful children, and I adopted five more. One of them died, so I now have seven,” she said.
The actress noted that she never remarried after losing her husband, choosing instead to dedicate her life to raising her children.
Reflecting on the state of marriage today, Ozokwo observed that despite people investing significant effort in personal development, many marriages still end in divorce. She contrasted this with the past, when arranged marriages were upheld with a strong sense of commitment and perseverance.
She also shared that instilling values of respect and responsibility in her children played a key role in maintaining stability in her home despite numerous challenges.
“I have told my children never to think of divorce. I raised my daughters to be respectful and my sons to be responsible. That is how I built a strong home through hardship, love, respect, and sacrifice,” she concluded.
