I’d say it was divine. God was intentional—subtle yet firm—in how He brought her into my life. Who would’ve thought the lingering scent of a lady’s perfume could be His gentle nudge? But He truly knows the end from the beginning. We first met in 2015 during interviews for the AVMS Editorial Board at the University of Ibadan. She was a bright-eyed 100-level student—small in stature but big in presence. I was on the panel and saw an innocent, brilliant soul. I later became Editor-in-Chief in my final year. I never imagined I’d be marrying that “innocent girl” nearly a decade later. Titilope served actively on the editorial board, and her contributions were impossible to miss. Amidst other brilliant teammates, she stood out—not just by talent, but through consistency and presence. They were truly one of the best teams I ever led. Our interactions while in school were strictly professional. After graduation, I kept in touch with a few of them here and there, mostly through social media.

I wouldn’t say that I met Tolulope in a particularly fancy or dramatic way. He was a senior in vet school—already in 400 Level—when I came into the University of Ibadan as a wide-eyed 100 Level fresher. I joined the AVMS Editorial Board, where he was not only a member but also one of the executives. At the time, we weren’t friends. I simply knew him as “KojoTee.” Over the years, we continued to cross paths—at editorial board meetings and within the faculty. By the time I was in 300 Level and he was in 600 Level, he had become the Editor-in-Chief of the board. Our interactions remained cordial and professional—just the usual senior-junior dynamic or co-editors working on the same team.

But when God chose to redirect the path of my life, He did so through what seemed like a simple assignment. Our church praise team needed a music minister who could bring both grace and depth. As I prayed and thought through potential options, Titilope came to mind. I had followed her music ministry passively, but I had no doubt she was the right person for the role. I reached out, and to my delight, she didn’t hesitate. I picked her up on my way from work—it was an all-night vigil—and we spent the drive catching up on life. Somewhere in that conversation, I casually mentioned I was in a relationship. She responded with kindness and happiness for me, or so it seemed. That night, it rained, and I offered her my black sweatshirt so she wouldn’t get cold. She accepted it gratefully. After the vigil, I dropped her off early the next morning. As she walked away, I realized she still had my sweatshirt on! I gently called her back, and she returned it with a smile and a thank you. What she didn’t know was that the scent of her perfume had clung to that sweatshirt. And I couldn’t bring myself to wash it. I didn’t want to lose the fragrance, but I couldn’t wear it either—my then-relationship wouldn’t have survived the explanation. So the sweatshirt lived on my bed for weeks, filling my room with her scent. Strange as it was, I felt like she had taken up residence in my space. Our communication remained minimal after that—occasional professional updates. Nothing more.

Many years down the line, our relationship grew more familiar. I would often reach out to him for guidance—on writing, vet school, and later on, the veterinary profession after my induction. He always responded with kindness and thoughtful advice. As a minister of the gospel through music, I one day got a call from my now “big brother,” KojoTee. He invited me to speak on the art and heart of true worship. I accepted, and we arranged to travel together to and from the venue. That ride gave us the chance to really talk—catching up, sharing stories, and discovering new things about each other. That, in my opinion, was the real beginning of our friendship. He remained my “Egbon,” but he also became a true friend—one who genuinely cared, encouraged, and looked out for me. At the time, I was nearing the end of my NYSC year—facing the uncertainties everyone knows too well: job hunting, purpose, next steps. I felt there was something special about how we connected, but I pushed the thought aside, assuming he was in a relationship—or at least, that’s what I believed

About a year later. A few things happened, and she eventually found out I was no longer in a relationship. That’s when our conversations picked up again. And somehow, we never missed a beat—we always continued from where we left off, day after day. I found myself remembering those earlier moments with her, especially the sweatshirt season. It all started to make sense. God was guiding me gently back to something deeper. As we talked more, we realized how aligned our views were—on God, on life, on values. And then came a pivotal moment. One evening, we had a disagreement—nothing unusual. But what she did next changed everything. In the middle of our frustration, she said softly, “Can we pray together?” That one sentence shook me. In that moment, I had no doubt—this was her. This was the one.

Several months later, during one of our usual catch-up chats, I casually asked, “Egbon, when are you inviting us for your wedding na?” I usually avoid such questions—I hate putting people on the spot—but I guess that moment was divinely orchestrated. That’s when he told me he was actually single, and marriage wasn’t in view at the time. I apologized, and we moved on. But something shifted. We continued talking more frequently, and one day, he asked about my genotype. He framed it with a curious question: “Why are you still single? Has genotype ever been a factor for you?” I said no, and added that I’m AA—so that had never been an issue for me. That seemed to reassure him, because shortly after, he made his intentions clear—he wasn’t just enjoying our conversations for the fun of it. He was being intentional. Of course, I reciprocated—why not? I decided to pray about our relationship, and it didn’t take long before I had peace in my spirit. God approved. From that point on, we talked every day. It felt like we had been designed for each other—our hearts, dreams, and values aligned effortlessly.

I kept my composure... until the day I finally asked: “Will you walk this path of purpose with me and make life beautiful together?” Her answer was dramatic (of course), but it was an undeniable, joy-filled YES. They say “man proposes, but God disposes.” But I’ve come to learn—God arranges, redirects, and perfects in His own perfect time. And now, here we are—walking boldly into forever, together.

When I was due for some time off work, I took two weeks to go to Ibadan. Yes, I needed rest, and I had some errands to run, but if I’m being honest, the biggest reason was that I had told him I’d only acknowledge his request for a relationship if he asked me in person—and I was ready. We had our first date at a beautiful resort. We spent the day together, talking, laughing, doing different activities—just soaking in each other’s presence. It was a beautiful day, made even more special when he asked me officially to begin a relationship with him—with marriage in view. I must have been too shy to respond immediately—my brain froze, and all I could manage was “okay” and “goodnight.” So I turned to my most trusted mode of expression—writing. I sent him an email with my real answer, one written from the heart. That message marked the beginning of this remarkable journey. Exactly one year later, we’re saying “I do,” in the presence of God, our families, and loved ones.