Video: Nigerian Actress Patience Ozokwor Says She Was A Victim Of Forced Marriage

Ozokwor, fondly called ‘Mama G’ said she did not see any reason why her parents were forcing her into marriage at that age, adding that they just wanted her to get married.

She said as a child born into a polygamous family, her mother was eager to see her get married before other children.

The actress said, “It was not my decision [to get married at 19]. And if it’s not my decision it means I was forced into it.

“I was forced into it many years ago, and I did not see any reason my parents were forcing me as I was still young.

“And even at that age I had so many suitors. You know when you come from a polygamous family and your mother is struggling for her own daughters to get married and this other one is also struggling for her own daughters to get married and when this one [suitor] came around and my mother said go and I could not make a choice. I was not allowed to make a choice. At the end, I had to obey my parents.

“I was not brought up to disobey them at all.

When asked if she enjoyed the marriage after she obliged her parents push, she added, “Sincerely speaking as a Christian I did not. The marriage was not easy at all for me as a young girl, it was not easy.”

She said no matter all she went through in the marriage she had to stay on because her parents eyes were on her and could not jump from one man to the other.

Patience further advised women to remain in their matrimonial homes no matter what, adding that the only reason a woman should separate from her husband is when life is involved.