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Shun Third-Party Interference In Marriages, 85-Year-Old Engineer Urges Couples
An 85-year-old building engineer, Chief Paulinus Nwafor, has disclosed that couples should avoid bringing in third parties into their marriages, as well as avoid focusing on materialism if they want to live long and stay healthy.
Nwafor said that being alive to witness his children and loved ones coming together to celebrate him and his wife was more significant to them than any other material thing.
The octogenarian disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the celebration of the 45th wedding anniversary between himself and his wife, Lolo Nwafor, over the weekend.
The wedding anniversary, which was organised by their children, took place at Nwafor’s country home in Ezioko village, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, and was presided over by the Bishop of Ekwulobia Catholic Dioceses, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke.
The Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, a Labour Party chieftain, Valentine Ozigbo, family, friends and other well-wishers graced the occasion.
Recounting the challenges and breakthroughs they went through in their 45-year marriage, especially to train all their children, Nwafor said their staying power was not allowing third parties into their marriage and also avoiding focusing on material things while looking unto God for their supplies.
He said, “We are very excited that our children are celebrating us while we are alive, which they are doing today that is our 45th wedding anniversary. It is better to be celebrated while alive than the fanfare thrown at the demise of someone.
“I am happy seeing people coming together to make merry because of me and my wife and we are witnessing it. Our life wish is being fulfilled today and we are so happy about it. We are blessed with the gift of children and a wonderful community.
“Marriage is a thing of joy as ordained by God. For 45 years now, I and my wife have been living happily together. No marriage is without challenges and despite the challenges, we have always had breakthroughs and our staying power is because we avoided third parties and kept our focus on God for direction.
“My advice to struggling marriages is to be patient; divorce should not be the first option. They should always be prayerful and invest everything they have in giving their children the best training in the ways of God. I appreciate God for the gift of being alive to witness this day and I expressed satisfaction with what God has bestowed on me and my wife, for 45 years.”
In his message, the Bishop of Ekwulobia Catholic Dioceses, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke, identified parental failure, community failure and failure of the Church as the reasons marriages are crashing all over the world today.
Okpalaeke said training of children in the ways of God from infantry to the stage of getting married remains the only solution to curb what he described as a “marriage menace.”
He said, “Marriage should be a thing of joy. To the best of my knowledge, marriages are constantly crashing today because such couples have lost a sense of family.
“The crises you are seeing in marriages today is a reflection of failure; failure of the parents, failure of the community, failure of the Church and other institutions that are supposed to be a nurturing place or ground for those that would eventually get married.
“Institutions have failed. Individuals have lost a sense of family. Many of the crashed marriages today, point to the fact that the couples were not well prepared before entering into marriage life. The family and the Church somehow have failed.
“Good family provide good husband/wife, provide good Reverend Fathers and Sisters.”
Okpalaeke, while admonishing Christians to be followers of Christ, show love of Christ and live a Christ-like life, also harped on the importance of having good intentions which he noted matter a lot to God, reminding the people to always put God first in their daily activities.
Also in his appreciation, one of the sons of the celebrants and a serving Priest at the Ekwulobia Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Emmanuel Nwafor, said the celebration had become an annual routine in their family to celebrate God’s abundant grace and mercies.
He urged the Christian faithful to imbibe the spirit of celebrating their parents while they are still alive, adding that it was their wish to celebrate their parents while alive.
He said, “It is our wish to celebrate our parents while alive. I will never forget their unending support to make sure that all their children become great in life. They are a beacon of faith and testament that serving God is indeed rewarding.”
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.