Experts have raised alarm over the rising wave of marital breakdowns linked to financial stress, urging couples to build stronger financial understanding and transparency in their relationships.
The warning came at the Marriage & Money Summit 1.0, held in Lagos, where clerics, counsellors, entrepreneurs, and relationship experts examined how financial instability continues to threaten the foundation of Nigerian marriages.
Convened by Dr. Adetutu Afolabi, the summit explored the connection between emotional harmony and financial stability, with participants agreeing that many Nigerian couples underestimate how deeply money affects marital peace and long-term success.
Dr. Afolabi, in her keynote address, said that while affection brings couples together, it is often financial stress that drives them apart.
“Many couples underestimate how much daily peace relies on stable financial systems,” she said. “God designed marriage not just for companionship, but for purpose — and that purpose can’t be fulfilled in survival mode.”
Citing findings from her research, Dr. Afolabi revealed that financial conflict remains one of the major causes of marital breakdowns in Nigeria. She added that when spouses support each other emotionally and financially, both marital satisfaction and entrepreneurial performance improve significantly.
Also speaking at the event, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel advocated a “kingdom marriage model” , one that promotes joint knowledge, shared decision-making, and mutual respect in handling family finances.
“In a true partnership, there’s no financial secrecy,” he said. “Couples must see money as a tool for alignment, not as a source of tension.”
The summit featured panel discussions, couples’ games, and interactive sessions designed to help participants break the cultural silence around money issues. Speakers dismissed long-held myths that financial discussions lead to arguments or that one partner should handle all financial matters.
Participants were encouraged to develop practical budgeting habits, set mutual goals, and build a shared financial vision for their homes.
According to the organisers, the Marriage & Money Summit aims to promote healthier family systems by encouraging transparency, teamwork, and long-term planning in Nigerian marriages.
Dr. Afolabi said the initiative would continue through the Marriage & Money Movement, which seeks to normalise open financial communication between couples and foster vision-driven marriages rooted in purpose, not just emotion.
“When couples work together toward a shared vision, money stops being a wedge and becomes a witness to what’s possible,” she added.
The summit ended with a call for continuous education, counselling, and financial empowerment as tools for preventing the growing crisis of financially induced marital failures across the country.