Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that lasting marriages are sustained by good character, forgiveness, patience and humility, stressing that beauty and wealth alone cannot keep a home together when life becomes challenging.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the wedding reception of Aishatu Buratai, daughter of former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), and Umar Zoru, on Saturday in Nasarawa State, Shettima urged the newlyweds to build their union on enduring values rather than material things.
According to the Vice President, marriage is a sacred institution that tests patience, honesty and mercy away from public attention.
“Our faith describes marriage as half of religion. It is at home that patience, honesty and mercy are tested daily, far from the applause of strangers,” he said.
Shettima noted that strong families are the foundation of thriving nations, urging parents to pass on values that can stand the test of time.
He praised both families for their discipline and service but stressed that true greatness is not measured by influence or status.
“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.”
The Vice President also reminded young people that marriage demands commitment, responsibility and sacrifice, saying genuine love requires loyalty even during difficult times.
Emphasising the importance of character, he declared, “Affection alone cannot sustain a home. 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.”
