A Nigerian cleric, Prophet Apata Enoch, has stirred widespread reactions on social media after urging people not to marry what he described as an “ugly person” while celebrating his wife’s beauty ahead of her 50th birthday.
The self-styled pastor made the remarks in a Facebook post on Monday, where he praised his wife, who turns 50 on August 5, and reflected on their marriage.
Although he did not state the name of his church, the cleric is known for regularly preaching to a congregation and frequently shares messages about his ministry on social media.
In the post, Enoch revealed that he is 54 years old while his wife is approaching 50, describing her as his “sweetheart” and encouraging people to carefully consider physical appearance when choosing a life partner.
He also claimed that he had intended to marry another woman in the past but said he abandoned the relationship after what he described as divine direction.
According to him, God revealed that he would not appreciate the woman’s appearance in old age, adding that he is grateful he eventually married someone he considers beautiful.
The comments quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from social media users, with opinions divided over the pastor’s views on beauty and marriage.
While some users defended his right to express personal preferences, others criticised the remarks as insensitive and discriminatory, arguing that physical appearance should not determine a person’s worth or suitability for marriage.
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One Facebook user, Dotun Jegede, said every individual is created beautifully and warned that statements diminishing people’s appearance could undermine the values of love, acceptance and inclusion.
He argued that true beauty extends beyond physical features and includes virtues such as character, compassion and integrity. He also questioned how people who have suffered disfigurement through illness, accidents or medical treatment should be viewed if physical attractiveness becomes the standard for marriage.
Another commenter, Uche Nwafor, reacted humorously by saying he could only imagine what the woman the pastor initially intended to marry looked like.
A different user, identified as Grace, simply remarked that beauty remains subjective, noting that “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”
The pastor’s post continues to generate debate online, with many users weighing the importance of physical attraction against character and other qualities in choosing a life partner.
