“DON’T LET SOCIAL MEDIA COUNSEL DICTATE HOW YOU RUN YOUR HOME,” PASTOR CAUTIONS COUPLES
The advice is everywhere. From social media preachers to relationship counsellors, couples are constantly being told what to tolerate, when to walk away and even how to run their homes. But what happens when a marriage quietly defies the script?
As Elder Akinola and Mrs Owolola Olasehinde mark 40 years together, family and friends reveal the faith, sacrifice, mutual respect and values that have sustained their union, while a thought leader delivers a warning to couples: “Don’t let social media run your home.” Oluwaseyi Elizabeth Jimoh reports.
“YOU CAN READ THEIR LIVES IN THEIR CHILDREN”: TRIBUTES POUR IN AS FAMILY, FRIENDS UNVEIL VALUES BEHIND OLASEHINDES’ 40-YEAR MARRIAGE
Couples have been cautioned against allowing social media preachers, pastors and relationship counsellors to dictate how they should run their homes.
The Resident Pastor of GOFAMINT Pacesetters Assembly, Akure, Dr David Babafemi Ilori, gave the warning during the 40th wedding anniversary celebration of Elder Akinola and Mrs Owolola Olasehinde, held on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Ilori urged couples to build their marriages according to the principles of God’s Word rather than allowing opinions and relationship advice circulating on social media to determine how they manage their homes.
“Don’t let social media preachers, pastors and counsellors dictate how you should run your home,” he cautioned.
According to the cleric, while people could learn from the experiences and advice of others, every marriage was unique and couples should be guided primarily by God’s principles and the understanding they had developed with one another.
He stressed that Christ must remain the foundation of every Christian marriage, noting that the foundation of a home ultimately determines its strength and durability.
“Foundation matters in life and in marriage, and it also determines how long it will last,” Ilori said.
He described the Olasehindes’ 40 years together as a testament to love, commitment, perseverance and service to God, saying their journey demonstrated that marriage could thrive when couples remained committed to one another and placed God at the centre of their home.
He further urged younger couples not to be discouraged by the challenges associated with marriage, saying the four-decade journey of the Olasehindes offered an example that lasting marriages were still possible when couples embraced faith, patience, sacrifice and mutual commitment.
For the Olasehindes, the anniversary was not only about marking four decades together. It also became an occasion for relatives and friends to recall what they had seen in the marriage.
And their recollections were strikingly consistent.
“YOU HAVE BEEN A COVERING”
Agnes Taiwo Gbala, a sibling, described the couple as people who had walked with God and with each other for four decades.
She praised them for being mentors and a source of support to the family.
Pastor and Mrs Charles Olasehinde, also siblings, described the marriage as “a journey of grace”, saying the couple had remained models in several areas of life, including marriage.
They prayed for continued good health, progress and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labour and see their grandchildren.
Dr Mrs Ebunoluwa Prosper Samson-Molawa recalled growing up around the couple and said she could not remember seeing them argue or disagree in the presence of the family.
She said major decisions were taken jointly.
Her recollection went beyond the big moments. She remembered the couple sharing a room and bed even when their children were young, eating from the same plate, wearing matching outfits and doing many things together.
She also praised their respect for each other’s families.
“They are both amazing, making marriage exciting to walk into,” she said.
For Pastor Alex and Mrs Jumoke Fadeni, the couple demonstrated what marriage, faith and family should look like.
Omolara Kkhator said their marriage had shown that love was found not only in major moments but also in the daily choices to forgive, support and remain faithful.
Bayo Olumodeji, a cousin from Lagos, described their union as one built on faith, respect and commitment.
He said their journey had demonstrated that love involved sacrifice, patience and dedication.
Chief Clement Olayele Akinnodi, a friend, described the 40 years as a testimony to commitment and devotion.
Daniel Aina, PhD, another friend, described the couple as two people who had remained together “through thick and thin”, sustained by resilience and persistence.
“CELEBRATE PEOPLE WHILE ALIVE”
Read Also: No Home Is Challenge-free, Cleric Says, Urges Couples To Make Christ The Centre
Pastor and DNS Ikuemonisan (RTD) urged people to celebrate those who have made a difference while they are still alive.
He described the Olasehindes as introverted, intelligent people of integrity who feared God.
According to him, they were not easily manipulated or persuaded to accept what was wrong.
He also praised their loyalty, generosity and compassion, saying they remained focused on their home, careers and service to God.
“They gave no time to gossip,” he said.
Then he added a line that perhaps captured the essence of the tributes:
“You can read their lives in their children.”
The anniversary therefore became more than a celebration of longevity.
It was a gathering of people offering testimony about what four decades of marriage had meant to them.
CELEBRATION OF FAMILY, FAITH AND GIVING
The anniversary, beautifully moderated by media professional Chioma Ogungbenro, also featured an appreciation from the couple’s children to family members, dignitaries, friends and church members who attended the celebration.
Guests were treated to sumptuous meals, drinks and souvenirs as the family marked what was described as a significant milestone in their journey.
Among the souvenirs was a copy of Divine Virtues, a book authored by Elder Christopher Olasehinde, one of five books to his credit.
For the Olasehindes, who have witnessed four decades in the first institution known as marriage, while also seeing their second generation emerge from the union, the celebration was more than a number.
Their marriage has been blessed with two grown sons: Dr Oluwamuyiwa Ayokunle, who is married to Oluwagbotemi, and Mr Oluwasola Ayomide (B.Sc., ACA), who is married to Omotola. Both families are blessed with children, including their grandsons, Oluwatomiloye, AyoOluwakiitan and AraOluwa, and their granddaughter, OluwaseunBabaraFunmi.
A MARRIAGE LESSON FOR A CHANGING GENERATION
The 40-year journey of Elder and Mrs Akinola Olasehinde offers a simple but profound counterpoint to the often-conflicting relationship advice flooding social media: marriage may be discussed publicly, but it is ultimately lived privately.
As the first institution ordained by the Creator, marriage cannot be successfully run while its Originator is ignored. For the Christian home, the couple’s story is therefore a reminder that beyond the trending opinions, viral relationship rules and conflicting counsel online, there is value in returning to the foundation upon which the institution was established.
After four decades, the Olasehindes’ marriage stands as a living testimony that love, faith, sacrifice, patience, mutual respect and commitment can survive changing times when deliberately nurtured.
Their story should, perhaps, serve as a wake-up call to the contemporary generation. At a time when avoidable conflicts in homes increasingly have consequences far beyond the couples involved, the health of the family deserves greater attention. The home is not merely a private space; it is the bedrock upon which societies, nations and generations are built.
When homes are strengthened, society gains stability. When homes fracture, the consequences often travel into the next generation.
For the Olasehindes, 40 years is therefore not just a celebration of longevity. It is a testimony that a marriage can endure when its foundation is respected, its vows are honoured and both partners remain committed to building together.
Their Ruby Anniversary leaves behind a question for a generation navigating marriage in the age of social media: in the rush to listen to everyone online, have we remembered to listen to the One who instituted marriage in the first place?
