Entertainment
Love Can’t Keep Marriage – Actress Ijeoma Thomas Explains
Nollywood actress Ijeoma Thomas challenges the notion that love is sufficient to sustain a marriage.
While portraying a character proposing marriage to Yul Edochie in a movie, the actress emphasized that love alone is not the cornerstone of a successful marriage.
She contended that other elements also contribute to the foundation of a marriage and the formation of a family unit.
She explains further, “There are so many divorces and separations today because love doesn’t keep couples together, love can’t save marriage. All those that have divorced or are separated were once in love with each other. In fact, many that are divorced or separated now still love each other, but they can’t stay together again as couples because the other factors are not there, or were never there from the beginning of the relationship. They were both blinded with love of the flesh and self-centered. What we call love today is self-centeredness.”
Speaking further in the one-on-one session with Potpourri, Ijeoma who started production of her own movies since 2009 highlights other factors to be considered in making a marriage work.
“A successful marriage hinges on knowledge, understanding, wisdom, respect, values, love and trust. Now, when you, as a lady, know the value of your man, you will give him that high honour and respect by proposing to him before you lose him to another.
“Also in the same order, when a man knows the value of his lady, he will give her that joy and happiness by proposing to her before he loses her to another man, therefore before you take that step to propose to your lovely lady as a man, ask yourself what’s her value.
“Not in material or monetary terms, but values in terms of godliness, cleanliness, transparency, respect and honour. These are some of the values the man should look for in the woman he wants to marry,” she said.
The actress came to the conclusion that either the man or the woman can take the initiative to propose marriage.
Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has set a new benchmark, becoming the first African artist to achieve the highest concert revenue from a single tour.
According to Touring Data, the global tour monitoring platform, Burna Boy’s No Sign of Weakness tour is now officially the highest-grossing tour by an African artist in Oceania’s history, earning $3.1 million from 31,000 tickets sold across four shows.
The milestone was reached during the Sydney leg at Qudos Bank Arena, where Burna Boy alone generated $1.117 million in ticket sales.
SEE ALSO: Moment Wiegman Asks Burna Boy For A Dance After Ballon d’Or Win [Video]
The tour spans 20 shows across three continents—North America, Europe, and Oceania.
In Australia, the four shows sold approximately 30,946 tickets, reinforcing the fact that African artists can sell out major arenas worldwide.
With hits like On The Low, Burna Boy’s global tours have become some of the highest-earning tours by African musicians.
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has publicly declared love and appreciation for her former husband, Olakunle Churchill, years after their highly publicised split.
The emotional moment occurred during their son King Andre’s 10th birthday celebration held in Abuja, where Dikeh offered heartfelt prayers and words of affirmation for Churchill in the presence of guests.
In a video from the event that has since gone viral on social media, the actress described Churchill as “an amazing father” and expressed gratitude for his role in their son’s life.
SEE MORE: Tonto Dikeh, Bodyguard Summoned To Court Over Alleged Assault, Others
“You are an amazing father, thank you so much,” she said. “Your businesses will flourish; whoever curses you shall be cursed. I love you with the love of God.”
Dikeh further prayed for Churchill’s family and children, asking for divine protection, success and progress in all their endeavours.
“I pray for your family. I pray for your business. I pray for all the children. They will progress. Failure will not meet them. Everything that they touch will be blessed,” she declared.
The development marks a significant shift in the relationship between the former couple, whose marriage ended in 2017 amid allegations and public disputes that dominated entertainment headlines for years.
Recently, Dikeh revealed that they had reconciled and “buried the hatchet,” signalling an end to their long-running feud and a renewed focus on peaceful co-parenting.
Churchill later married actress Rosy Meurer in 2021, and the couple have two children together. Despite past controversies, both families appear to have embraced maturity and mutual respect.
The birthday celebration and Dikeh’s public declaration have since sparked mixed reactions online, with many applauding the former couple for putting aside differences for the sake of their son.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has appointed Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, as Special Adviser on Public Engagement and Advocacy.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor.
According to the statement, the governor approved the appointment as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen communication between the government and the people of Edo State.
ALSO READ: Court Grants Angela Okorie ₦5m Bail Over Alleged Cyberbullying of Mercy Johnson
“This is to inform the general public that Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of Mercy Johnson-Okojie as Special Adviser on Public Engagement and Advocacy,” the statement read.
Johnson-Okojie, a renowned actress, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, is widely regarded as one of Nollywood’s most celebrated figures, with nearly two decades in the industry and appearances in over 200 films.
Beyond her acting career, she is the founder of the Mercy Johnson Okojie Foundation, which focuses on women empowerment, child welfare, educational support, and healthcare outreach.
The Edo State Government expressed confidence that her influence, public appeal, and grassroots connection would help boost awareness of government programmes and encourage citizen participation in state policies.
Her husband, Odianosen Okojie, represents Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The appointment has sparked conversations across social media, with supporters describing it as a strategic move to bridge the gap between governance and the entertainment industry.
Maiduguri Blasts: Atiku Warns of Terror Resurgence, Slams Govt Response
Ex-FCT Senator Dumps PDP Over Internal Crisis
NCDMB, Renaissance Africa Train Pipeline Engineers
NLNG Inducts 103 Trainees Into Empowerment Scheme
NCDMB Sponsored Oracle Primavera P6 Training Underway In Rivers State
Senate Approves Abe as Chairman, NUPRC Board
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
