Before Walking Down The Aisle.
As we celebrate the success and achievements of Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, I celebrate the System that raised and nurtured her. I celebrate her parents for raising a global icon. I celebrate the culture that gave the girl child an opportunity to be educated. 66 years ago, education of a girl child was not very common.
I celebrate the System that raised and nurtured her husband, Dr Ikemba Iweala. I celebrate his parents for raising a wholesome man who is not threatened by the growth and success of his wife.
I celebrate Dr Ikemba Iweala for understanding that his wife’s success is his success as well. I celebrate him for supporting his wife’s vision and career. I celebrate him for being a super support system.
Dear Sister, love is not blind. Open your eyes very wide so you can see clearly. Your vision, dreams and aspirations are some of the things that should be discussed during courtship. If you want to be an “Ngozi Okonjo Iweala”, then your choice of a partner should be an “Ikemba Iweala”. Your vision and belief system must align with that of your partner. Wrong choice of a partner will shatter your dreams. Wrong of choice of a spouse will destroy your destiny. I repeat, love is not blind, neither is it foolish. Except you don’t have a vision, maybe the major consideration in your choice of a partner is someone that will become your Automated Teller Machine, then this message is not for you.
Dear brother, you have the right to make decisions and plan for your future. Your desire and choice of a spouse is very personal. You already know the kind of person you want to spend the rest of your life with, go for that right choice. Don’t be a vision killer. If you do not want a career woman as a wife, if your choice of a spouse is one that will sit at home while you provide all her needs, if you don’t want someone that will wake up one morning and tell you she’s going back to school for her PhD, please go to your village, you will definitely find the right person. And if your choice is one who is career oriented, please go for that choice as well. You don’t need to waste your time and energy forcing a round peg into a square hole, it will definitely not fit, except you are willing to pay the price of reshaping the edges.
©Charity Odu Before Walking Down The Aisle.
