LIFE&BEAT beams its searchlight on some celebrities whose marriages have been intact in spite of the pressure that this kind of unions experience

Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva

Many movie buffs describe actor Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke Silva, as the ‘Nollywood sweethearts’. They are often regarded as the oldest celebrity couple in the Nigerian entertainment circles, having been married for about 25 years.

Although there were rumours that their marriage has been threatened by crises at different times in the past, the couple has never hesitated to show the world how much they are in love with each other.

The fact that the Jacobs renewed their marriage vows to each other shows they are committed to its success. As a matter of fact, when Joke clocked 50 years on September 29, 2011, the couple turned the occasion to yet another opportunity for the renewal of their wedding vows.

There was no better way to silence their critics and tale bearers, whose malicious gossips had in the past almost torn the couple apart, go green with envy.

Zack and Ngozi Orji

Zack and Ngozi Orji are a good example of a couple that has learnt overtime to place their marriage above individual interests. Both of them were active in Nollywood, with Zack earning himself a place in the hearts of most movie fans with his gentlemanly ways on the screen, until Ngozi faded out of the scene for reasons best known to the couple.

The truth is that the seeds that germinated into a full-blown marriage between these love birds were sown outside the movie industry. They met each other in Enugu when Ngozi was still a student of the Institute of Management and Technology. So far, they have been married for 23 years and are blessed with three lovely children.

Zack owes the success of their marriage to mutual understanding and their determination to make it work. “What has us going is our resolve to make it work. We decided that it had to work and we made serious efforts to make it work. If you agree as a couple, God would make it work. We realised a long time ago, that as man and woman, we lacked the power to make it work on our own. We make sacrifices, especially as a children are involved,” he says.

Kenny and Bolajoko Ogungbe

Kenny Ogungbe needs no introduction. Apart from being a key player in the Nigerian entertainment industry, he is a good example of the proverbial successful man that is motivated by a supportive wife.

Keke Baba, as he is fondly called, actually gives his wife, the credit for the success of their marriage. He says their marriage has depended a lot on Bolajoko’s understanding and wisdom. He says that he considers himself very fortunate to have been married to her.

Kenny says, “The secret of my marriage is understanding; it comes largely from my wife. She believes in me and encourages me to go about my work, while she tends to the home front. She takes care of the family. This gives me confidence and inspiration, knowing my home is in safe hands as I travel around the world. She understands my work and doesn’t give me hassles.”

Matthew and Omotola Ekeinde

Matthew Ekeinde and delectable Nollywood actress, Omotola, have built a very intimate marital relationship for the past 14 years. The couple, no doubt, has had their fair share of malicious gossips, too. But each time their marriage appeared set to be seriously rocked by tale-bearers, they had managed to pull through successfully.

Interestingly, while Matthew remains a successful pilot, Omotola’s career has enjoyed a tremendous boost over the years. Both of them got married when the latter was still a starry-eyed 18-year-old. And Matthew has never had cause to regret the day he proposed marriage to her.

He says the reason their marriage has lasted this long is because Omotola is his God-given partner. “If she wasn’t my true wife, how else would a marriage between a pilot and an entertainer have lasted over a decade?” he asks.

Isaac and Nneka Moses

Isaac and Moses made a name for themselves by selling Africa to the world through the popular cultural programme on TV, Goge Africa. The couple met on a movie set in 1996. Isaac was still an actor at the time and Nneka was supposed to play the role of his girlfriend in a movie titled Love in Vendetta.

After the movie was shot, they became friends. Then one thing led to the other. The next thing they found themselves doing was walking down the aisle.

Isaac and Nneka have been successfully married for over 14 years. The secret of its success? They see themselves as the best of friends. Apart from that, the union is founded on mutual love and respect.