The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has introduced a Religious Pre-Marital Counselling Course aimed at strengthening family values and supporting healthy marriages across Lagos State.
Eko Hot News reports that the training programme seeks to equip religious counsellors with practical skills needed to guide couples preparing for marriage. The course focuses on building stronger relationships through effective communication, understanding, and responsible family life guidance.
According to officials, the initiative is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to promote healthy family structures and improve awareness about relationship dynamics before marriage. Religious leaders often serve as key advisers to couples, making their role important in shaping successful unions.
The programme provides participants with tools and strategies to help couples build stable relationships. Topics covered in the training include effective communication, conflict management, emotional understanding, and maintaining mutual respect in marriage.
Participants will also learn how to identify early warning signs of unhealthy relationship patterns and provide guidance that promotes safe and respectful partnerships. The training aims to encourage informed decision-making among couples preparing for marriage.
The course will be facilitated by experienced professionals with expertise in family life education and counselling. Among them are Praise Fowowe, Emmanuel Temilade Oladele, Adekunle Omotayo Saheed, and Folashade Ajayi.
These facilitators bring years of experience in marriage counselling, relationship development, and family life education. Their contributions are expected to provide practical insights that will benefit religious counsellors and the couples they guide.
The Lagos State Government recognises the significant role religious institutions play in preparing couples for marriage. Many faith-based organisations provide premarital counselling as part of their marriage preparation process.
Through the DSVA initiative, religious counsellors will receive structured training that strengthens their ability to guide couples effectively. The course also encourages faith leaders to promote healthy relationship values within their communities.
Officials explained that the programme also highlights the importance of early education in preventing harmful relationship patterns. By equipping counsellors with relevant knowledge, the agency hopes to promote healthier family environments across Lagos.
The training is delivered online, making it accessible to religious counsellors across different communities in the state. Participants will be able to learn at their own pace while gaining practical knowledge applicable to real-life counselling situations.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency continues to expand programmes that support families, protect individuals, and promote awareness about respectful relationships. Initiatives like the pre-marital counselling course are part of broader efforts to strengthen family life education.
Observers say empowering marriage counsellors with the right knowledge can contribute significantly to building stable homes and improving community well-being. Strong marriages, they note, often begin with proper guidance and preparation.
With the launch of the Religious Pre-Marital Counselling Course, Lagos State aims to support religious leaders in their role as trusted advisers while promoting healthier relationships and stronger families across communities.
