Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor has opened up about the circumstances surrounding her early entry into marriage, describing the experience as one rooted in parental arrangement rather than personal choice.
The award-winning actress, widely known for her maternal and matriarchal roles in Nigerian cinema, revealed that she was married off at the age of 19. She spoke about the emotional difficulty of the transition, noting that she initially struggled with the lack of autonomy in the decision.
| “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,” Ozokwor stated.
The union lasted over two decades. During that period, the actress balanced her rising career with the demands of being a primary caregiver. She explained that her late husband faced long-term health challenges before his eventual passing over two decades ago.
| “We spent 23 years together. He was sick for 15 of those years, and in 2000, he passed away,” she explained.
Speaking about her family life, the actress clarified the number of children she raised. She highlighted that her family included both biological and adopted children.
| “We had three beautiful children, and I adopted five more. One of them died, so I now have seven,” she said.
Following the death of her husband, Ozokwor chose not to remarry. Instead, she focused on raising her children and instilling strong values about marital longevity. She emphasized her firm stance against divorce and encouraged her children to prioritize stability and character.
| “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,” she added.
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