I met Olayibowale randomly in church (BSFOAU). I already knew and looked up to her elder brother, so the relative connection stirred an early interest. But finding a strong avenue? That took strategy.
Random? Please. I've known Olamide since our first year. He was the popular Pre-Degree Coordinator—not really on my radar. In fact, our first real interaction was his offer to help carry my cooler after a Foundation and Follow-Up Bible School (FFBS) "Bring Forth Fruits" programme. I politely declined. (I was not built to be an easy target.)
I knew I needed a spiritual angle. The game changed when I became a Bible Study teacher. I got swamped—flawlessly—by her spiritual intelligence and zeal. We clicked quickly, and suddenly, I was listening more intently to every conversation that popped her name up
He claims spiritual zeal, but his next move was reaching out to the FFBS library, where I was the librarian. He wanted to borrow a book. I wasn't sure it was available, but I couldn't stand in the way of an MOG's spiritual growth, so I agreed to check with him. We searched and talked. I think it was mostly spiritual topics, because I wasn't giving out personal details back then.
The book was just the prop. I was cooked the moment I started looking forward to every opportunity to gist, laugh, pray, whine, banter, and talk Bible together. From there, it was straight to burning Etisalat bonus airtime on night calls that kept my feet on the wall. The foundation was laid.
He showed genuine concern when I fell ill after the "Join The Chariot" programme. He called to check on me, and even when I tried to brush it off (after travelling from Jalingo to Ife for the semester break and then to Ilesa for injections!), he followed up. That was the first chink in my armour.
Our bond truly solidified when my part two results came out ( Trust us, we don't look like what we've been through! ). She was the Assistant Bible Study Coordinator, and I stayed behind for two weeks to help finalise the manual. It was a perfect, contained environment.
During that intense period of working together, I started developing feelings, which he seemed to share. But he never explicitly said he wanted me forever. I didn't push it. ( But I was waiting .)
I prayed, strategised, managed the territory jealously, got church leadership approval, aimed, locked target, and prraaahhh—shot & hit right in the middle after a few trials!
I had just returned from a wedding in Osogbo, preparing for the holidays and exams. December 23rd, 2018. He finally asked the question I had been waiting for, and I responded right then and there!
Seven years of learning, friendship, and love later, it only makes sense to energise that December 23rd count, until we breathe our last in love, health, and finesse. The paperwork is done, the strategy was flawless, and it's truly time to finally build a family together—our most important joint project yet.