By KAZEEM AKANDE

A 53-year-old marriage has won the 2023 Family Week competition organised by Mushin Local Government under the leadership of the Council Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Bamigboye.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council organised the Family Week screening at the Secretariat to choose the family that will represent Mushin at the grand finale coming up at the state level.

Bamigboye said after thorough screening and assessment, the family of Chief and Mrs Femi Okuyemi emerged winner with 80 per cent, to beat the families of Alhaji and Mrs Taiwo Odunsi, who came second with 65 per cent.

According to him, Alhaji and Mrs Isiaka Emiola got 56 per cent to get the third position.

“The criteria used in the screening exercise included punctuality to the venue, length of marriage, parental contributions to the achievements and success of their children.

“At the same time, contributions with commitment of the family to their community was another criteria,” he said.

The Executive Chairman, who was represented by the Supervisor for Agriculture and Social Services in Mushin Local Government, Mr Shakiru Oyefolu, commended the families for upholding their marriages.

He added that the chairman was interested in upholding the tenets of marriage as established by God.

Oyefolu said that the programme was targeted at strengthening marriages at the community level and to encourage huge investments in child development and the future of the community.

“Marriageable is an institution established by God for procreation and contribution of human capacity for productivity, with internalisation of norms in their children for social development in the society.

“Being the basic unit of the social system, the state government in partnership with the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, has organised annual family week celebration to strengthen family ties.

“This development will encourage unity among couples and influence parental responsibility for quality child upbringing in the society,” he said.

According to the council boss, Okuyemi, who is in his 90s and his wife in her 70s, with over 53 years in marriage, has produced Medical Doctor, Accountant, Lawyer and Insurance expert as children.

He said the couple would be representing the local government at the grand finale coming up at the state level.

Mrs Aderonke Ogundiran, the Council Head of Agriculture and Social Services Department, in her votes of thanks applauded all the families who participated in the Family Week and screening exercise.

Ogundiran said that the programme was aimed at encouraging couples to stay together and protect their marriages, for the success of their children in future.

NAN reports that the 2022 edition of the grand finale organised by the state, Mushin got the third position, through its representative, Alhaji and Mrs Tunde Okuwobi’s family, who came home with the Bronze medal. (NAN)

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