Clergyman Kingsley Okonkwo has sparked conversation after stating that many men in their forties struggle financially because they chose not to marry earlier in life.
Speaking during a recent church service, the relationship coach and pastor argued that marriage can be a catalyst for financial growth and personal responsibility.
“If you are a single man above 28-ish, of course this is not cast in iron, but one of the best things you can do for yourself is to marry,” Okonkwo said.
According to him, many single men believe they are unmarried because they lack financial stability. However, he suggested the reverse may be true.
“Many single men think ‘it is because I don’t have money that I am not married’. No, it is because you are not married that is why you do not have money,” he stated.
Okonkwo claimed that, statistically, married men tend to earn more than their single counterparts because they are compelled by responsibility to increase their income.
“As a single man, you don’t have to make more money. That your noodles is enough for you… If you are a married person, whether you like it or not, you have to make more money,” he said, adding that once individuals commit to higher responsibility, they naturally push themselves to grow.
The pastor also emphasized what he described as biblical principles regarding youth, urging young men to build their careers, deepen their faith, and marry early.
“There are certain things you must do in the days of your youth… bear your burdens in the days of your youth, know the Lord in the days of your youth, and marry the wife of your youth,” he said.
Okonkwo further advised that major life ventures, including marriage and career-building, are better pursued at a younger age, suggesting that starting such commitments after 40 can present additional challenges.
His comments have since generated debate on social media about marriage, finances, and personal development.
