Effective communication between couples has been identified as a potent strategy that could stem the tide of divorce and help build successful marriage.
A counselling expert, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola made this known while delivering a lecture titled, “Building and Sustaining Marriage with Effective Communication” during the second edition of Marriage Revival and Retreat Programme organized by the Education Committee of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, Adigbe, Abeokuta.
Aikulola who is also Chairman of the Education Committee and the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment stated that couples need to consciously and deliberately work on improving their communication skills to make their marriage thrive.
He added that couples need advanced communication skills which would help in their choice of words, manner or body language of delivering the word and the timing of communicating their messages.
“Sustaining marriage and achieving a happy family is beyond true love, honesty and trust. It also requires very effective communication which is the key to making any marriage successful and everlasting. Effective communication in marriage leads to better understanding and increases intimacy between couples,” Aikulola said.
To effectively communicate, Aikulola said married individuals need to be honest, intentional, deal with anger, watch their words, forgive their partner, listen, be fair and trust their partner.
Speaking in an interview, Vice Chairman, Education Committee of the Church, Mrs. Kate Oganwu said the retreat was organized to sensitize couples on communication in marriage to help build and save marriages from leading to divorce adding that the Committee would continue to organize the Marriage Retreat.
Some of the participants at the event, Pharm. Thomas Itodo and Mrs. Dupe Ihoh commended the Committee for the program stating that they have been exposed to beneficial ideas which could help their marriage blossom.
