Nollywood star says patience and sincere engagement may resolve family opposition, but warns against marrying into hostility.
Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has shared thoughtful advice for couples facing resistance from a partner’s family. In a recent interview on The Morayo Show, which was uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday, the actress encouraged couples to make genuine efforts to bridge gaps and build understanding before ending a relationship.
However, she also warned that persistent hostility from relatives can be a serious warning sign—one that may require reevaluating the future of the relationship.
Try to Build Bridges First
Omotola stressed that couples should not immediately abandon a relationship simply because a partner’s family disapproves. Instead, she advised them to invest time and effort into winning over resistant relatives through patience, empathy, and sincere engagement.
“If the families of the spouse don’t like you, try everything you possibly can to make them understand you,” she said, acknowledging that some families may initially reject a partner based on preconceived biases.
She explained that in some cases, opposition is rooted in long-held prejudices or preconceived notions about ethnicity, background, or personal beliefs.
“They already have prejudices… maybe they don’t like you because you’re from a particular place in Nigeria or the world,” she said.
Know When to Walk Away
While Omotola encouraged efforts to foster understanding, she also cautioned that not all resistance can be resolved. She noted that some families may appear to soften their stance only to revert back to hostility later.
This, she warned, can create ongoing tension in a marriage—one that can be especially damaging because marriage itself is already demanding.
“Marriage in itself is already an institution where you’re going to face a lot. It’s a lifetime journey,” she said.
She added that entering marriage without family support could make the journey unnecessarily difficult.
Support Matters in a Lifetime Partnership
Omotola concluded by urging couples to consider the long-term implications of marrying into a family that opposes their relationship.
“Every step of the way you’re going to need support. So if these people are not going to support you from the beginning, you’re going to have a very rough journey.”
Her message was clear: while love is important, entering a lifelong union without the backing of family can lead to constant conflict—making the relationship far harder to sustain.
Final Thought
Omotola’s advice is a reminder that relationships require both emotional connection and a supportive environment. Couples facing family disapproval may find it worth investing in understanding and patience—but also wise to recognize when opposition is unlikely to change and could undermine their future together.