Patience Ozokwo, the Nollywood actress, has recounted how her parents forced her to marry a man she did not know at the age of 19.
The veteran actress, via the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), explained that although she was scared because she did not know how to love her husband, over time, she began to develop feelings, and the marriage grew stronger.
She also revealed that she and her husband had been together for 23 years, adding that during that period, her husband battled illness for 15 years before he died in 2000.
She stated that the marriage produced three beautiful children, adding that she had to adopt five more children over the years.
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Speaking about marriage, she disclosed that she taught her children never to think about divorce, noting that she taught her daughters how to be respectable and her sons how to be responsible.
She said: “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.
“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.
“We had three beautiful children, and I adopted five more. One of them died, so I now have seven.
“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.”