I had phobia for marriage – Ruth Kadiri reveals why she kept her marriage secret

Nollywood actress and producer Ruth Kadiri has opened up about her decision to keep her personal life and the early stages of her marriage out of the public eye.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Dear Ife podcast, Kadiri revealed that she struggled with a phobia of marriage and harbored doubts about whether the union would succeed, prompting her to keep the relationship private.

The mother of two shared that her husband supported her choice and agreed to a highly intimate wedding with just 50 guests.

"I had a phobia of marriage. I was battling with the fear of the unknown and asking myself, ‘Am I going to make this decision and everything will now scatter?’ So, I wasn’t really ready to have a public marriage, and my husband was okay with it."

"Also, I didn’t want a lot of drama regarding my relationship. That’s why my husband and I invited only 50 people to our wedding. Twenty-five people were invited by him, while 25 others were invited by me. If I were abroad, I guess we would have just probably walked to the registry and gotten married," she said.

Kadiri and her husband, Mr. Ezerika, wed in a private ceremony around November 2018. The couple has since welcomed two daughters, the first in August 2019 and the second in July 2022.

Why It Matters

Nollywood is one of the world's largest and most vibrant film industries, with its top actors and producers commanding massive social media followings across Africa and the global diaspora. Consequently, the personal lives and marriages of Nigerian celebrities are frequently subjected to intense public scrutiny, media speculation, and online commentary. To safeguard their mental well-being and relationship stability, a growing number of public figures in the entertainment industry are opting to keep their weddings, spouses, and children away from the public eye.