Nigerian cleric and marriage counsellor, Bisi Adewale, has moved to clarify his recent comments on marital roles, saying his remarks about spiritual leadership being a husband’s primary duty were misinterpreted online.
According to The Punch, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Adewale explained that some social media users wrongly concluded that he was discouraging men from providing for their families.
He insisted that his position aligns with biblical teaching, noting that financial responsibility remains a core obligation of husbands.
“Some people interpreted that statement to mean that I was teaching that men should not provide for their families. That was never my message, my intention, or my belief,” he said.
Referencing 1 Timothy 5:8, he emphasised that scripture clearly holds men accountable for the welfare of their households.
“A man who deliberately refuses to provide for his family is acting contrary to biblical principles,” he stated.
The cleric further stressed that husbands are expected to work diligently to ensure their families’ needs are met, including food, shelter, education and security.
“Provision is important. Provision is biblical. Provision is necessary. However, provision alone is not enough,” he added.
Explaining the intent behind his earlier sermon, Adewale said he was highlighting the biblical structure of responsibility in marriage rather than ranking duties in order of importance.
“The first assignment God gave man was not to make money. It was to walk with God, obey God, represent God and lead according to God’s instructions,” he said.
He drew on biblical figures such as Adam, Abraham and Joshua to support his argument that men are expected to provide spiritual direction within the home.
According to him, husbands are to model faith, teach scripture, and guide their families in godly living.
Adewale warned that focusing solely on financial provision without spiritual guidance could leave families materially stable but lacking moral and spiritual grounding.
“A man can provide money and still fail in leadership. He can buy food but fail to teach values. He can pay school fees but fail to build character,” he said.
He maintained that the ideal Christian husband is one who balances both responsibilities effectively.
“The Bible never presents provision and leadership as opposites. The godly husband is expected to do both.
“Provision takes care of the family today. Spiritual leadership shapes the family for generations,” he stated.
His clarification follows the circulation of a viral video from a men’s conference where he made the original remarks, sparking widespread debate on social media about marital roles and expectations.
