…as Pastor’s Strong Message on Omugwo With Your Husband Divides Families.
Pastor Bisi Adewale warns that extended overseas Omugwo without spouses could weaken marriages and expose elderly men to emotional and health risks.
LAGOS, NIGERIA — The iNews Times | Go for Omugwo with your husband has become the central message of a fresh warning issued by Nigerian marriage counsellor, Pastor Bisi Adewale, who cautioned women against travelling abroad alone for extended childcare duties while leaving their spouses behind.
The cleric, founder of Family Booster Ministry International and the College of Marital Success, made his position known in a video posted on his Facebook page on Monday, igniting renewed debate about how modern migration is reshaping the traditional Omugwo practice.
In this report, we examine the key developments, reactions from stakeholders, and the broader implications.
Background of the Story
Omugwo, a deeply rooted Igbo cultural practice, traditionally involves a mother assisting her daughter during childbirth and the early stages of childcare.
In the past, the practice was limited to weeks or a few months within Nigeria. However, with the rising wave of migration, Omugwo has increasingly become international, with mothers travelling to countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, sometimes for years.
While widely viewed as an expression of love and family support, concerns have emerged about the long-term impact of extended spousal separation, especially among elderly couples.
It is against this backdrop that the message of Omugwo with your husband gained prominence.
Key Developments
Speaking in the viral video, Pastor Adewale described extended solo trips for Omugwo as harmful to marital stability.
“Another thing I hate is for a woman to escape to Canada to go and do Omugwo for three years. Very bad. Very, very bad. Now a 75-year-old man is now going all around buying boli, buying groundnut, at his age. It is not good,” he said.
The counsellor emphasized that going for Omugwo with your husband should be the guiding principle for married women, particularly in later years of marriage.
He revealed that he had made a personal agreement with his wife that they would always travel together for such engagements.
“I told my wife, the children may move abroad. If you are going for Omugwo anywhere, we are going together. If your house is small, I have money. I will get a hotel and stay nearby,” he said.
To reinforce his argument, he used medical scenarios to highlight the importance of spousal presence in old age.
“When you see a four-year-old boy before his doctor, what will the doctor ask? Where is your mother? When you see an 84-year-old man before his doctor, what will the doctor ask? Where is your wife?” he asked.
He also warned men against mistreating their wives during younger years, stressing that companionship eventually transitions into caregiving.
“When a man is young, his wife is his mistress. When he grows older, she becomes his mother. At 80 or 90, she becomes his nurse. That is when we need each other most,” he stated.
Reactions from Stakeholders
The message advocating going for Omugwo with your husband has drawn mixed reactions across social media and religious circles.
Some supporters argue that elderly men left alone for prolonged periods may face loneliness, declining health, or emotional distress.
A Lagos-based family therapist told The iNews Times that ageing couples require increased companionship rather than separation.
“Extended absence at that stage of life can create emotional gaps that are difficult to repair,” the therapist said.
However, critics point out that economic realities abroad often make extended Omugwo unavoidable, particularly given high childcare costs in Western countries.
A Nigerian mother living in Canada noted that flying parents abroad is sometimes the only practical support system available.
“Childcare here is expensive. Many husbands understand why their wives need to stay longer,” she said.
Implications
As conversations around going for Omugwo with your husband gain traction, the issue reflects broader shifts in Nigerian family dynamics amid migration trends.
Experts warn that prolonged separation, particularly in marriages spanning several decades, may strain emotional bonds and expose elderly spouses to avoidable risks.
The debate also touches on gender expectations, caregiving roles, and how tradition adapts to global realities.
While Omugwo remains a cherished cultural practice, its transformation in the diaspora era is prompting difficult questions about balance and marital responsibility.
What Happens Next
The renewed attention on going for Omugwo with your husband could prompt faith-based organizations and marriage counsellors to encourage joint travel or shorter stays.
Families may also begin reassessing the duration and structure of overseas Omugwo arrangements, particularly for ageing couples.
Whether the warning leads to widespread behavioural change remains uncertain, but the conversation has undeniably intensified.
Conclusion
Omugwo with your husband is the message Pastor Bisi Adewale believes Nigerian families must seriously consider in an age of global mobility and shifting traditions.
As migration continues to redefine family life, his warning underscores a fundamental truth: companionship in marriage becomes increasingly vital with age, and prolonged absence may carry consequences that extend beyond cultural obligation.
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