*Photo L-R: Mrs. Amaka Onwualu, Mrs. Loyce Ogueri, the Founder of Cheriven Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. Eucheria Ekweozoh and Barr. Mrs Ijeoma Okoro at a symposium to mark International Women’s Day in Abuja*
Women have been urged to cultivate patience, emotional strength and wisdom in navigating the challenges of marriage and motherhood in a fast-paced modern world.
The call was made at a seminar organised by the Cheriven Empowerment Foundation where speakers stressed the need for women to build resilience and maintain emotional stability in their homes despite pressures of modern life.
Founder and Convener of the foundation, Eucheria Ifeoma Ekweozoh, in her opening address titled “Strength Beyond the Moment,” said marriage and motherhood require patience and discipline rather than impulsive reactions.
She noted that the realities of modern society, including the speed of communication and social media interactions, have made many people accustomed to instant responses, a tendency she warned could be harmful to family relationships.
“Marriage is not easy. Motherhood is not easy. And being a woman in this generation – navigating expectations, comparisons, pressures and responsibilities – is not easy,” she said.
According to her, many women often judge themselves harshly during difficult seasons of life, stressing that emotional exhaustion does not amount to failure.
“You are not weak because it is hard. You are not failing because you are tired. And you are not behind because your journey looks different from someone else’s,” she added.
Ekweozoh explained that the theme of the seminar was designed to encourage women to respond to challenges thoughtfully rather than react emotionally.
“Real strength is not what you say in anger. It is what you choose after you calm down. Real strength is not winning an argument; it is preserving what matters long after the argument is over,” she said.
Drawing from her experience as a psychologist and marriage counsellor, she said many marriages collapse not necessarily because love is absent but because patience and perspective are lacking.
“I have seen marriages collapse not because love was absent, but because patience was absent. I have also seen restoration when people choose to grow beyond the moment,” she said.
Ekweozoh said the foundation provides counselling, mentorship and support for women and families, noting that strengthening women contributes to healthier families and communities.
“When a woman is strengthened, a family is stabilised. And when families are stabilised, society becomes healthier,” she said.
One of the keynote speakers, Ijeoma Okoro, spoke on “Marriage, Resilience and Wisdom in Adversity,” urging women not to view difficulties in marriage as failure.
She said disagreements are inevitable in relationships but should not lead to destruction if handled with maturity.
“Wisdom in marriage is not about proving you are right. It is about protecting what is right,” she said.
Okoro emphasised that emotional reactions during conflicts could damage long-term stability in relationships.
“A bad day is not a bad marriage,” she said, advising couples to pause before responding during disagreements and to avoid involving outsiders too quickly in marital issues.
Another speaker, Blessing Amaka Onwualu, addressed participants on “Practical Motherhood, Endurance and Family Balance,” highlighting the demanding nature of parenting.
She said many women enter motherhood without fully understanding the emotional and physical demands involved.
“No one prepared me for how demanding motherhood would be,” she said, noting that raising children requires sacrifice, discipline and emotional stability.
Onwualu stressed that children benefit more from consistency and stability than from perfection.
“Your child needs your steadiness more than your perfection,” she told participants.
She also advised mothers to establish routines, protect their marriages even after childbirth, and seek help when necessary.
Speaking on emotional health, medical expert Jacqueline Ikeotuonye highlighted the importance of maintaining psychological balance in family life.
According to her, emotional exhaustion among women can affect family relationships if left unaddressed.
“There was a season when I was physically present but emotionally exhausted,” she said, adding that ignoring mental wellbeing can create instability at home.
She noted that emotional strength includes the ability to regulate reactions and practice self-care.
“You cannot pour from emptiness,” she said, advising women to develop healthy routines, take intentional pauses and seek help before reaching crisis point.
In her closing remarks, Ekweozoh reiterated the importance of emotional discipline and continued personal growth for women.
“Strength is not about reacting correctly in one moment. Strength is about the choices we make over time,” she said.
She encouraged women to prioritise their emotional wellbeing and seek support when necessary.
“Your emotional health is not a luxury – it is a foundation for your family and your future,” she said.
Ekweozoh also reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to creating platforms for counselling, mentorship and support for women navigating different life seasons.
“Sometimes the strongest thing a woman can do is ask for help, seek guidance and allow herself to heal, rest and grow,” she said.
The seminar brought together young women and mothers from different backgrounds to discuss challenges in marriage, parenting and personal wellbeing, with participants encouraged to build resilience and maintain stability in their homes despite life’s pressures.