2022 came with colourful memories for many celebrities and socialites who found love and walked down the aisle. Some of those weddings trended because of the personalities involved who have waited for the cupid god to smile at them while others trended because of the controversies they generated. Shade Wesley-Metibogun has compiled 20 weddings that lit up 2022.
Rita Dominic, Fidelis Anosike
Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic and media entrepreneur Fidelis Anosike’s wedding was one of the most anticipated weddings of 2022. Dominic, who is a darling of movie lovers, received massive applause and support after stating that she had found love. The screen goddess got married at the age of 47 and proved that age is no barrier to finding love. She unveiled Anosike, the founder of Folio Media Group, a multimedia company which owns Daily Times Nigeria two years ago by sharing their loved-up pictures on social media. Many were excited as it was the first time the actress would go public about her love life. Though her husband was married, his first marriage was to a lady known as Chioma, the union crashed, and he got married to another lady named Sidi. The marriage also did not stand the test of time as well. A few years after being left heart broken, the media guru found love in the beautiful actress. They had their traditional marriage in April in Imo State which was well attended by her colleagues. Her white wedding was held in November, at Manor North Yorkshire, England. The event was well attended by her friends and colleagues who left the shores of Nigeria for the ceremony.
Yul Edochie, Judy Muoghalu Uchechukwu
Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie’s marriage to his colleague, Judy Muoghalu Uchechukwu, aka Judy Austin, joined the league of romantic relationships that trended in 2022 because of the controversy that surrounded the union. The talented actor was married to May Edochie, his first wife for 18 years before he became entangled in another relationship with Judy Austin. In 2021, rumour was agog that the father of four had impregnated the actress. Edochie was threatened with an expose for welcoming a love child. This prompted him to quickly marry Judy in a traditional low-key ceremony which was kept a secret. Fans were shocked when Edochie took to social media and posted a picture of his fifth child from Judy Austin and made it known that he had married the actress. He was hugely criticized for his actions and his first wife whom he married when she was 22. The actor’s public apology did not change May’s mind as she felt betrayed by her husband who she felt could have found a better way to correct his mistake.
Nike Laoye, Kunle Adeyoola
Best friends turned lovers, Nike Laoye and Kunle Adeyoola, otherwise known as Soul Snatcha, one half of the gospel music singing duo, Rooftop Mc had a fairy tale wedding in March 2022. The two were not first timers in the marriage institutions when they met and kicked off their relationship. Nikki Laoye was once married to Alexander Oturu in 2011 but the marriage hit the rock in 2018 as a result of irreconcilable difference and the fact that their purpose did not align again. Soul Snatcha on the other hand had lost his wife in 2019, but they had four children before the unfortunate demise of his wife. He proposed to the singer in December 2021 in the presence of their four children and a few months after that, they both walked down the aisles. Their marriage trended in 2022 because of the terrible experiences the two had and the fact that they got a second chance to love and smile again. It was an epic moment for Nikki Laoye who had no child from her previous marriage but was fortunate to have four little children trusted in her care as an icing.
Olumide Akpata, Osayamon Michelle’s Wedding
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata and his lover, Osayamon Michelle walked down the aisle in an elaborate wedding in October, 2022 in Mauritius. They had their traditional ceremony in Benin City, Edo State earlier in May. The learned gentleman who has not been linked with any woman has been on the lists of eligible bachelors having clocked 50 in 2022. His achievement in the law profession despite the fact that he is not yet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN made many look forward to knowing the lady who would eventually capture his heart. His wife, Michelle has a Master of Law, LLM from Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Essex. She is a top executive and the Financial Markets Legal Adviser at the Central Securities Depository, the firm licensed to carry on the depository, clearing and settlement of all transactions in the Nigeria Capital Market.
David Adeleke, Chioma Rowland Avril’s Wedding
David Adeleke, otherwise known as Davido and his lover of many years, Chioma Rowland Avril, also known as Chef Chi’s wedding was one of the most anticipated weddings as many thought it would hold in the new year. Many of their fans who had followed their love story from when it started looked forward to a fairy tale wedding but the circumstances which surrounded their secret and hasty union prevented them from watching the razzmatazz which would have characterized the wedding ceremony. The two lovers had a secret wedding after the unfortunate loss of their only son, Ifeanyi Adeleke. The three-year-old boy had drowned in the singer’s swimming pool at his home in November. Their grief further brought both families closer and united in it Davido married Chioma. Besides, Davido’s father, Adedeji Adeleke, also wanted the two to settle down and stop existing as just lovers. Today, they both live as husband and wife.
Abubakar Malami, Nana Buhari
Abubakar Malami, the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation married Nana Hadiza, President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter with his first wife, Safinatu in July 2022. Malami had two wives, Aisha and Fatima before falling in love with 41-year-old Nana who was a divorcee. So she ended up being his third wife. She was once married to Abdulrahman Mamman Kurfi but it ended in divorce after six children.
Ifedayo Olarinde, Benedicta Elechi
Media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, otherwise known as Daddy Freeze and his wife, Benedicta Elechi got married in September 2022 in the United Kingdom. It was both their second attempt at marriage. Daddy Freeze was formerly married to a lady called Opeyemi but the marriage crashed in 2014 as a result of domestic violence and adultery. The two were blessed with two children before calling it quits. Elechi was also married before meeting Daddy Freeze. She was still legally married to Paul Odekina and had three children when she met Freeze. She had filed for divorce in 2012 from Odekina but the process was not finalized when she moved in with the controversial personality and welcomed a son with him. Odekina took Daddy Freeze to a Port-Harcourt High court for sleeping with his wife while she was still legally married to him. The controversial personality was found guilty of committing adultery with a married woman. He was ordered to pay the sum of N5 Million to Odekina. The court also dissolved the marriage between Elechi and Odekina because of her adulterous act.
Jude Abaga, Eniola Mafe
Rapper Jude Lemfani Abaga, popularly known as MI but now known as The Guy married his lover of many years in September 2022. The Chocolate City Record boss proved that it is never too late to find a life partner when he got married at 40 to his 37-year-old cerebral partner. The two started following each other on social media and became friends before they started a relationship. The iconic rapper and Mafe who grew abroad made their relationship known in February, they had their traditional wedding on September 22 while their white wedding took place on September 25, 2022.
Ini Dima Okojie, Abasi’ Ene-Obong
Nollywood actress, Ini Dima Okojie’s wedding to her lover of many years, Abasi Ene-Obong trended in 2022 after a tale of the actress crashing her beau’s former marriage surfaced online. The duo met a few years ago after the actress cried on social media that she couldn’t get her favourite chocolate, Malteser, to buy in Nigeria. Ene-Obong, the founder of 54Gene, slided into her direct message, requesting to send her a bag of her favourite chocolate. The two got close and finally ended up as lovers. It was alleged that Okojie started dating the entrepreneur when he was still married to his former wife. She allegedly contributed to the break-up of the union. Ene-Obang later made a lengthy post where he revealed that he filed for divorce in 2018 from his first wife who had two daughters for him. He reached out to Okojie after he had commenced his divorce proceeding from his first wife. Ene-Obong and Okojie got engaged in July 2021 and had her civil union on May 19, 2022. Their traditional wedding took place on 21th May and their outdoor ceremony was at Five Palm event in Oniru, Lagos on May 28.
Clara Chime
Clara Chime, former wife of Sullivan Chime, one time governor of Enugu State joined the league of people who got married in 2022. The entrepreneur had her traditional marriage to a wealthy northern businessman in Amuda Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. She met her husband through one of the daughters of the late President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar’adua who was her classmate in school. Clara’s first marriage was filled with unpleasant memories which made her stay away from the institution for a decade before giving love a second chance. She was abused by the former governor who stopped her from working, limited her interactions with people and arrested friends who came to visit her. She fell into depression as a result of the maltreatment and was sedated and locked up like a dog. Some of her siblings also allegedly supported her abusive husband then because of the crumbs they were allegedly getting from the state governor. It was the letter she sneaked out to Femi Falana, SAN that saved her as the human right activist did all within his power to rescue her. Chime tried to exonerate himself by organizing a press conference and asked her to denounce the accusation made against him. She had to succumb to pressure and do his bidding because her brother who was feeding from the largesse of her then husband also testified to the fact that she had mental issues.
Natasha Akpoti, Emmanuel Uduaghan
Natasha Akpoti, the 2019 Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP in Kogi State and her beau, High Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom in Delta State who is a cousin to Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Delta State governor had their carnival wedding in March 2022 in Obeiba, Ihima Kogi State. The duo welcomed their first child, a boy four months after getting married. Both Akpoti and Uduaghan were formerly married to different partners before falling in love and ending up in each other’s arms. Akpoti had married at a very young age, and she divorced her husband when she was 21 years. She welcomed three children before her marriage packed up. Uduaghan is alleged to be still married to his first wife Vero which produced three children.
Mercy Chinwo, Blessed Uzochikwa
Gospel artiste, Mercy Chinwo quit the bachelorette’s club in 2022 after she married Blessed Uzochikwa, the presiding pastor of The Water Brook Church, Lekki, Lagos State. Since she has not been romantically linked with any lover before, many were eager to know the man that would sweep her off her feet and they were not disappointed when she unveiled her man. Pastor Uzochikwa is an I.T professional and human right activist who supported the fight against Xenophobia in South Africa in 2020. The duo got engaged in June and had their marriage introduction in July. They went to the registry on August 4th, while their traditional marriage took place on August 12th in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the white wedding was on August 13th.
Deborah Enenche, Sam Hawthorn Uloko
Gospel singer, Deborah Enenche, the first daughter of clergyman, Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre walked down the aisle with her heartthrob, Sam Hawthorn Uloko on December 17, 2022. She first kept her fans in suspense after posting a man putting a ring on her finger without showing the face of the man. A few days after the suspense, she introduced her heartthrob officially, a successful entrepreneur who is a graduate of Economics. They had their traditional marriage on December 15th, 2022. Her choice of wedding gown generated controversy after the ceremony as many felt it was not fashionable. They also criticized the fact that she held a bible instead of a boutique.
Simon Guobadia, Porsha Williams
Georgia born former Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Porsha Williams walked down the aisle with her Nigerian beau, Simon Guobadia in a fairy tale wedding which trended for its uniqueness in 2022. The duo who are both divorcees have had a fair share of the marriage institutions. Guobadia, is a self-made, first-generation entrepreneur in the oil and gas business. He is a native of Benin City in Edo State and Chief Executive Officer of Simcol Petroleum Limited. He is a relative of Aisha Guobadia, a former gold merchant and socialite jailed in the United States for some time before returning to Nigeria in 2000. The businessman is also a citizen of Atlanta. He is a father of five children and has been married thrice before he decided to give love a fourth chance with Porsha. Williams on the other hand was married twice before meeting Guobadia. She was married to Kordell Stewart and then got engaged briefly with Pilar Jhena Mckinley whom she welcomed a daughter with. Williams and Guobadia had their traditional wedding which was the talk of the town in November 2022 at Four Season Hotel, Atlanta, United State. Their white wedding took place the following day at the Methodist church in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Tokini Peterside, Gregoire Victor Schwebig
Tokini, the first daughter of investment banker Atedo Peterside, founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Anap Business Jets Limited and the Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation, tied the nuptial knot with her Caucasian lover at the Balmoral Event Centre, Lagos in 2022. Atedo spared no cost to ensure that he gave his daughter a befitting wedding. The very colourful and beautiful event had cultural dancers from Peterside’s native Rivers State adding flavour to the ceremony. And to further spice things up, super star David Adeleke aka Davido thrilled the guests from his repertoire of songs. A very cerebral being, Tokini is the founder of Arts x Lagos, the first international art fair in West Africa. A graduate of INSEAD and London School of Economics, Tokini chose a career in marketing, and subsequently became Head of Marketing at Moët Hennessy, part of the LVMH group, in Nigeria. She founded TP-Collective in 2012, providing strategy, business planning and marketing consulting to luxury and culture businesses in Nigeria. A recipient of several awards, her most recent recognition was being included in Apollo magazine’s 40 Under 40 list. Her husband, Gregoire Victor Schwebig, a French national is the founder of Africa Works, a pan-African flexible workspace provider chain, operating in nine cities across eight countries and counting. He also runs Haussmann Africa, a corporate real estate company.
Mariam Afolabi, Qudus Badmus
Businessman and Chairman of SIFAX Group, Taiwo Afolabi completed the final leg of his first daughter’s wedding ceremony with a lavish nuptial in faraway United Arab Emirates, Dubai, in November. The wedding reception was held at one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, the prestigious Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. The white wedding was held about two weeks after their traditional wedding took place at her father’s luxury hotel, Lagos Marriott. The final marital rites also happened barely three months after Afolabi celebrated his 60th birthday in grand style and almost two months after his twin, Kehinde passed on in his sleep. Mariam is the Group Executive Director, Compliance of SIFAX group. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Style Loft Box, a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle mall located on the Island. She is also a fashion designer and oversees Mazelle Fashion and Studio, her fashion brand.
Blossom Chukwujekwu, Winifred Akhuemokhan
Nollywood actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu gave love a second chance when he walked down the aisle with Winifred Ehinome Akhuemokhan on June 17. The white wedding took place at Loveworld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy. The couple already held their traditional wedding about three weeks ago in Benin City, Edo State. Blossom was previously married to Maureen Esisi, a fashion designer but the marriage packed up three years after for reasons they are both unwilling to disclose. Blossom’s new wife, Winifred, is the niece of the Founder of Christ Embassy, also known as Believers Love World, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. She is also a very active pastor in the ministry. She is said to have appeared in a few Nollywood movies as an actress, but more engaged in pastoral ministry.
Kemi Adetiba, Oscar Heman-Ackah
Acclaimed movie producer and director, Kemi Adetiba tied the knot with her Ghanaian music executive lover, Oscar Heman-Ackah, just a few months after she turned 40. Oscar and Kemi had been together for quite a while before they tied the knot in Lagos. Oscar is a music producer, songwriter, sound designer, vocal instructor and media solutionist. He has functioned in widely varying facets of the music industry from composing orchestral music, coordinating choirs and providing scores and soundtrack for movies. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Soltracka Productions, a creative marketing, advertising, media agency, music label and production company. Born to a Ghanaian father and Nigerian mother, his father, Apostle Dave Heman-Ackah is the founder and Senior Pastor of Rainbow Christian Assembly, Warri, Delta State, while his mother, Pastor Rhoda Heman-Ackah assists her husband with ministerial duties.
Tim Godfrey, Erica Jones
Tim Godfrey and Erica Jones made headlines with their union which no one saw coming. The official holy matrimony took place in April 2022, and it was bliss to watch Tim Godfrey finally have a woman to call his own going by how some of his female band members went into a frenzy and allegedly dumped their singing engagement with him barely three weeks after he announced his engagement with Erica and made public his intentions to spend the rest of his life with her. His three top female leads in his Extreme Musical Band dumped him and moved on. The ladies, Blessing, Rejoice and Ibeekay allegedly gave no prior notice before they threw in the towel. More shocking is the fact that the ladies were among five of his crew that he surprised with saloon cars not too long ago. Their shocking exit has got people wondering if there is more than meets the eyes with Tim Godfrey’s engagement.
Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi And His Expanded Harem
The Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, made history in 2022 after marrying six wives within the space of two months. The traditional ruler made the decision to add six women to his harem after the collapse of his third marriage with Olori Naomi Silekunola in December 2021 which produced a son. On September 6, 2022, the monarch married Mariam Anako, a top executive with Nestol Limited, an oil firm. On October 9, almost a month after, he married both Elizabeth Akinmuda, an Electronic Data processor and Olori Tobi Philips, a former beauty queen and fashion designer as second and third queens respectively. On October 14th, 2022. He married Ashley Adegoke, a chartered accountant with a master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from University of Greenwich as his fourth wife. A week later, he married Princess Aderonke Ademiluyi, the great-granddaughter of a former Ooni, Ajagun Ademiluyi. Aderonke is the founder of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and London Fashion Week. The royal father also married Princess Temitope Adesegun, a Lagos based media personality with experience in the private and public sector as his sixth Olori.
*** Additional stories by Ivory Ukonu.
