By UBONG INYANG

True friendship between a husband and wife has been identified as a veritable ingredient for a happy, successful and thriving marriage.

The 81st inaugural lecturer of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Prof. (Mrs.) Arit Edem Obot stated this at the institutions International Conference Centre while delivering a lecture on the topic, Matrimonial Bliss: Reality or Mirage? A counselling Perspective’.

Prof. Arit Obot

Prof. Obot said the major ingredient that holds marriage is love hence the need for a husband and wife to be each others best friend in order to ensure matrimonial bliss.

According to the inaugural lecturer, true friendship transcends and rises above the ties of family relationships, stressing that friendship between a husband and wife, with its characteristic honesty and openness is absolutely essential for the success of marriage.

She called on the husband as the head of the family to love his wife and the wife as the helper to submit to her husband, adding that respect and love for each other is very essential because love begets love.

In his opening remarks, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu described the inaugural lecture as an academic culture of the institution where academics contribute to knowledge.

The Vice Chancellor however described the topic of the lecture as apt as it bothers on the marriage institution, which according to him, is a union instituted by God.

He said to achieve a blissful and rewarding marriage; the husband must maintain some level of decorum when handling marital squabbles even as he urged wives to reciprocate by showing utmost respect to their husbands.

This came as he described the inaugural lecturer as a knowledgeable academic whom he holds in high esteem.

Prof Akpagu who was the Chairman and Chief Host at the occasion said her contributions to the body of knowledge have been phenomenal, saying that the institution needs her kind to turn the tide around for good.