Olihe
&
Chiji

Olihe and Chiji's paths first crossed in 1992 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus. Olihe, a first-year pharmacy student, happened to share a dorm room — 129 Eyo Ita Hall — with three of Chiji's theatre troupe members. He was the group's president, a final-year Microbiology student, and apparently quite the charmer. In his characteristic manner, he engaged Olihe, made plans to come see her a couple of days later — and then stood her up. Ouch!

When they ran into each other outside the residential hall a few days later, Chiji acted as if nothing had happened. Olihe was not impressed and told him off. They stayed cordial. He'd visit her roommates, they'd chat, but nothing more came of it. Chiji graduated and life moved on.

Fast forward seven years later. Olihe had completed pharmacy school and was deep into her master's program and internship. Chiji, now working in Lagos, returned to campus to pursue a postgraduate degree — and came looking for her. He tracked her down at her department, they sat down for a drink, and talked and talked and talked. Something had shifted.

They stayed in touch, reconnected whenever he came to town, and a real relationship began to take shape. However, when Chiji proposed, Olihe said no! Hold your horses. She did care deeply for him, but she had determined that she would only say yes when fully persuaded. Marriage is a long haul, and not to be entered into lightly.

Then she went away for national youth service. When she returned home for Christmas, Chiji came to visit. He didn't need to propose again — the way she welcomed him said everything. They simply knew. By December 2000, they were unofficially (and unmistakably) engaged. On August 11, 2001, they stood before family and friends to make it official: “I do!”

Twenty-five years and three children later, they're still talking and talking… and they still say “I do.”