I once found myself in a heated gist where someone boldly said: “A man should never marry more than ten years younger than him.” I laughed and replied, “So if I’m 35, and I meet a responsible 25-year-old whose values match mine, I should just walk away because of mathematics?” The whole group burst into laughter, but the question stuck in my head.
Growing up in Agege, I used to hear aunties and uncles say things like, “A woman must marry someone at least five years older, so he can guide her.” The logic sounded neat then, but life has taught me that maturity doesn’t always match numbers. Now that I’m engaged myself, I’ve realized that what keeps a relationship steady isn’t age gaps, but shared vision and understanding.
When I chose my fiancée, it wasn’t about ticking off an “acceptable” age difference. It was about the way her character spoke louder than her years, the way our goals align, and the peace I felt about building a future with her. If I had followed a rigid rule about numbers, I might have missed this blessing completely.
That’s the danger of enforcing a “marriageable range.” It might look tidy on paper, but in reality, it can create chaos. I’ve seen men marry women much younger than themselves and succeed because of mutual respect and maturity. I’ve also seen couples close in age fall apart because their values didn’t match.
The truth is simple: age may influence, but it doesn’t define. What really sustains marriage is compatibility, responsibility, and the willingness to grow together.
So should there be a strict age bracket for marriage? Personally, I don’t think so. Because love doesn’t follow a calculator. Age counts in numbers, but marriage counts in understanding.