Ethical Perspectives on Love as an Instrument for Fulfilling Marriage Vows among Southwestern Nigerian Couples

Abstract

This article examines the ethical conceptualization of love as a vital instrument in fulfilling marriage vows among Yoruba couples of Southwestern Nigeria. Utilizing a mixed-methods design involving surveys and in-depth interviews with 51 couples attending Baptist churches in Oyo State, the study finds that love is not merely emotional but a consciously cultivated spiritual and moral resource. This resource undergirds fidelity, conflict resolution, and resilience to socioeconomic hardship, sustaining marital covenants. Three principal mechanisms—spiritual anchoring, cultural reinforcement, and communal accountability—enable love’s instrumental function.