A N700,000-a-year Christian matchmaking platform launched by relationship coach and pastor, Kingsley Okonkwo, has triggered a heated debate among Nigerians, with critics accusing him of commercialising the search for love and marriage.
The platform, ‘Mentor To Marry’, offers three annual membership packages ranging from N70,000 to N700,000, with the most expensive package providing subscribers with a dedicated matchmaker and coach, priority access to the platform’s founders, off-platform introductions and other benefits.
Okonkwo, who is the lead pastor of David’s Christian Centre, unveiled the platform in a series of posts on X on Wednesday, describing it as a guided marriage-preparation and matchmaking community for serious Christian singles seeking intentional, faith-based relationships.
The launch has, however, generated strong reactions online, particularly because it came after Okonkwo had criticised what he described as the increasing commercialisation of relationships in the country.
In one of his posts, the pastor said, “I feel for the men of this generation…. relationships have been so commercialised nowadays that it’s almost impossible for a young man to find true love.
“When we were young, all you had to get was a girl’s phone number but now all they want to send is their account number. Now you are expected to pay rent, school fees and transport before you are taken seriously.”
Okonkwo subsequently directed men interested in meeting “godly well mentored ladies from all over the world” to Mentor To Marry.
