csrreporters 
In Nigeria today, love stories are increasingly complex. Behind the smiles in wedding portraits and viral proposal videos lies a quieter reality: many marriages are quietly collapsing under financial strain. Factors such as unemployment, debt, or unequal financial contributions are straining relationships, often without public recognition, dismantling homes one unresolved money conversation at a time.
The Marriage & Money Summit 1.0, held in Lagos and convened by Dr Adetutu Afolabi, brought this silent epidemic into the spotlight. The summit underscored a crucial truth: love may bring couples together, but money often determines whether they stay together.
“Many couples underestimate how much daily peace relies on stable financial systems,” Dr Afolabi told attendees. “Marriage is designed not just for companionship, but for purpose and that purpose can’t be fulfilled in survival mode.”
At the summit, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel advocated for a kingdom marriage model, emphasizing joint understanding, shared decision making, and transparency in financial matters. The sessions encouraged couples to view money as a tool for alignment rather than a source of conflict, challenging cultural myths that discourage open discussions about finances.
Dr Afolabi’s research presented at the summit highlighted that financial conflict remains a leading cause of marital breakdown in Nigeria. Her findings showed that spousal support enhances self-confidence, marital satisfaction, and even entrepreneurial performance when couples achieve emotional and financial alignment.
The summit’s message was clear: it’s time to normalize vision driven marriages where shared love is paired with shared strategy. As one speaker noted,
“When couples work together toward a kingdom purpose, money stops being a wedge and becomes a witness to what’s possible.”
Attendees from counsellors to entrepreneurs left not just with practical tools, but with a renewed sense of empowerment and solidarity. The event marked a movement in Nigeria: one that is reshaping how couples approach marriage, money, and meaning.