Below is a piece written by Bamidele-Ademola Olateju in one of her Upfront series. It's a good piece for both married and unmarried folks.

Our society is facing a decline in values because the family unit is under assault. The pressure of modern living and the demands of work takes parents away from children. Women are working in demanding positions and occupations or are sometimes breadwinners thus giving them less time to be with their children. Without a doubt, the usual considerations that goes into choosing a mate, getting married and having children are changing. Even with these changes, there are time tested factors that makes building a strong family unit, a successful marriage and parenting easier.
Don't just marry your spouse, marry his/her family, it is most important for your peace and harmony. Love is important in choosing a mate, chemistry is important but the most enduring factor that keeps a marriage long after the giddy feelings are gone is SHARED VALUES. Couples should have shared values and expectations. While so many things change when the initial gragra is gone, shared values and expectations will keep you on track. Never be in a rush to get married, it is important to have a fairly long engagement because humans can change in unexpected ways. With a 2-3 years engagement, you will have the opportunity to see these changes, have an assessment done and adjust if need be or walk away.
Be financially and emotionally prepared before you jump into marriage. Love does not solve financial problems, planning does. Be realistic, love and other associated emotions are powerful but money is king, it is a lot more powerful. You need money to raise a family and maintain your home. Be careful at creating problems or inviting trouble. Problems like domestic violence, divorce, unplanned pregnancies, ill-mannered children, drug and alcohol abuse are devastating. It can take you years to correct marital errors. My father told me ast the age of 13, that; "any mistake in marriage is always corrected in the grave." Be wise! Have the understanding that serial births is one of the quickest ways to poverty, have the children you can care for.
The best marriage have defined boundaries. The success of every marriage depends on how husband and wife handles familiarity. Successful marriages thrive only under temperate conditions where, love, mutual respect and understanding are standing rules. It is easy to communicate, be tolerant and willing to make sacrifices when those three things are present.
It is also important to let your families know you value their love and support but not meddling. Be firm when you draw your boundaries and don't forget to make your own rules and solve your own problems. Help from family to settle issues should be sought as the last resort and don't employ scorch earth policy when you have misunderstanding. Don't try to win always. It is not a contest. Any bad thing about your spouse that you told your family will never be forgotten. They will never forgive your spouse even when you have.
Helpful Strategies
1. Don't date someone you can't marry
2. If you can't afford marriage, wait!
3. How a man treats his siblings is a pointer to how he will treat you.
4. How your wife's mother looks is how she will look, 30 years down the road.
5. Marriage is a partnership, put in your share of investment.
6. You look stupid when you discuss your spouses faults. What were you thinking?
7. Do not discuss your sex life unless with a doctor or therapist.
8. Keep looking nice after marriage or you risk neglect.
9. Men do not change, women do.
10. Maintain some level of individuality otherwise you will feel imprisoned.
11. Respect each other's privacy, snooping can ruin things.
12. Women are complex creatures and are more powerful than you think, manage your wife for best results.