Character, not wealth, sustains marriage — Shettima
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that lasting marriages are built on character, forgiveness, and humility, not just beauty or wealth.
- He emphasized that families are the foundation of national development and urged parents to instill enduring values in their children.
- Shettima spoke at a wedding reception, advising the couple to prioritize responsibility, patience, and mutual respect in their union.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has underscored the importance of character, forgiveness, and humility as the cornerstones of enduring marriages. Speaking at the wedding reception of Aishatu Buratai, daughter of former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), Shettima cautioned against relying solely on beauty and fortune to sustain a union through life's inevitable challenges.
Our faith describes marriage as half of religion, and I have always understood why. It is at home that patience, honesty and mercy are tested daily, far from the applause of strangers.
"Our faith describes marriage as half of religion, and I have always understood why," Shettima remarked. "It is at home that patience, honesty and mercy are tested daily, far from the applause of strangers." He stressed that families are the bedrock of national development, urging parents to pass down enduring values across generations. He advised society against prioritizing superficial visibility over virtue and encouraged young people to embrace marriage as a commitment founded on responsibility and lasting principles.
The Vice President described marriage as a pillar of faith and responsibility, noting that it tests patience, honesty, and mercy daily. He highlighted that nations survive and civilizations flourish through strong families that raise principled individuals. "The truest measure of a home is the value it transfers quietly from one generation to the next, a value that no lawyer can draft into a will and no hardship can erase," he stated.
The truest measure of a home is the value it transfers quietly from one generation to the next, a value that no lawyer can draft into a will and no hardship can erase.
Shettima congratulated the newlyweds, Aishatu and Umar Zoru, and their families, commending them for promoting unity, respect, and service. He advised the couple to build their union on forgiveness, patience, and character, emphasizing that affection alone is insufficient. "Beauty will change and fortunes may rise and fall. But character is what keeps two people standing beside each other when life tests their convictions," he concluded.
Beauty will change and fortunes may rise and fall. But character is what keeps two people standing beside each other when life tests their convictions.
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.