There is something quietly powerful about reflecting on 17 years of marriage together, especially when both partners are in the public eye. Recently, IK Osakioduwa and his wife, Olohije, took to Instagram to mark that milestone, and their posts give us much more than a “happy anniversary” greeting. They offer a peek into a marriage built on humour, persistence, vulnerability, and real talk.
IK began his post with the kind of nostalgia that tugs at your heart. “Just like that we’ve been married for 17 years,” he wrote. He remembered how they moved from “kids hanging and having long phone conversations” to being parents of teenagers. It wasn’t a grand cinematic declaration, just honest, relatable life. He admitted that he was supposed to say she had gotten better over time, but instead confessed that she is “still so troublesome,” her “mouth is still sharp,” and she still wants him to rub her back and hair.
Then he turned serious, saying thank you for “sticking it out,” for believing with and in him, and for giving him “the best 17 years of my life so far.” He teased about what he’d do when “the money shows up”, like showing the difference between “fish egg and caviar,” between “who are you?” and “how are you?”, between being “one of them” and “one of one.” His sign-off read: “Happy Anniversary to us. 17 down, a lifetime to go.”
Just a few lines later, Olohije posted her own tribute. She called IK her “ace,” reflected on how they are “slowly becoming real adults parenting 16 and 13 year olds,” and joked about perks she brings to their marriage. She said life is brighter for him with her in it. She teased about his height and how easy she can get things out her wardrobe and not deal with overhead bins during travel. But she tied it back to IK being “an amazing husband, a fantastic father and all-round great guy.” She signed off as “@ik’s biggest flex.”
Reading the two posts side by side gives you a better picture on how they lean on each other, laugh through imperfections, and have built intimacy over nearly two decades. See screenshot of their posts below:
Who is IK Osakioduwa and why his marriage matters
IK Osakioduwa (born Ikponmwosa Osakioduwa on May 21, 1979) is one of Nigeria’s most enduring media personalities. He was born in Lagos to Brigadier General Samuel Oviawe and his wife Felicia Oviawe, and grew up as the middle child among five. From childhood, he showed an affinity for performance by acting in school plays, singing in choirs, even creating mock radio shows with siblings to mimic on-air personalities.
He studied economics at the University of Lagos, and while in school he got his first TV breaks on a show called Campus Circuit Television. After graduation (2001), he cut his teeth at Rhythm 93.7 FM, adopting the nickname “Wild Child” for his witty, unpredictable style. Over time, he moved into television, hosting Studio 53, Temptation Nigeria, Big Brother Africa, and other high-profile shows.
He married Olohije, often called “Olo” on October 3, 2008, after about four years of friendship and a year of dating. Together, they have two children, Osahar and Micah.
Over the years, IK has occasionally shared his views on marriage, finances, and roles. For instance, on the Toke Moments podcast, he disclosed that he would never split bills 50/50 with his wife, saying she had never had to pay for anything, even expenses like their children’s school fees. He frames it as his “system”, one where he provides, and if she ever wanted to chip in, he would repay her.
These public statements about finances, combined with the recent anniversary posts, help us see that this marriage isn’t just a celebrity showpiece. It’s a partnership with clearly defined boundaries, and one that both sides willingly lean into.
What 17 years teach us about love, marriage, and partnership
From what IK and Olo reveal, here are some of the deepest lessons tucked into their story:
1. Start with friendship.
Their relationship didn’t begin with fireworks or romantic gestures. They were friends for years before things turned romantic. That foundation might help explain why their 17th anniversary feels like an authentic milestone, not a stage set. Their dynamic suggests they knew each other’s flaws before love made things romantic. That kind of groundwork gives marriage space to breathe.
2. Humour is not just garnish, it’s glue.
They roast each other in public because they’re secure enough to be real. The jokes aren’t distance. They’re intimacy. Their messages don’t feel staged either, they feel like private conversations we got lucky to glimpse.
3. Say “thank you” often.
Neither post is just jokes. IK dedicates several lines to gratitude, e.g for sticking it out, believing in him, the children, and the shared life. Olo, too, calls him “an amazing husband” and “fantastic father.” In public, in 2025, that kind of open admiration matters.
4. Roles, boundaries, and agency.
IK’s refusal to split bills 50/50 is controversial in modern marriage discourse. But it’s a boundary he has publicly drawn and defended. That’s one way of showing that in their marriage, roles matter and it works perfectly for them. He doesn’t hide it, and she doesn’t deny or contest it publicly. Simply put, do you.
5. Keep choosing each other, year after year.
The phrase “17 down, a lifetime to go” isn’t just sentiment. It’s a vow, repeated. Their tone suggests they don’t take each other for granted now just because they’ve lasted. They still ask for that back rub. They still tease. They still make small promises and those small things add up.
