Jadesola wiped the tears of joy off Bayo’s face and sealed it with a kiss as they were being chauffeured back home in their 2020 Range Rover autobiography, after an exclusive dinner for two in celebration of their 19th wedding anniversary.
Both gushed with child-like excitement as they reminisced over the last two hours spent at the newly opened Ikoyi private restaurant; the sumptuousness of the fine dining and the chef’s impeccable service. Their eyes were laughing at each other when Jadesola pulled Bayo’s hand across her thigh. Bayo followed her gaze to where it rested – on his #moluecufflinks. She raised her head and looked in Bayo’s eyes. Her wide smiles of admiration said everything.
She playfully moved her fingers slowly over the yellow accessory that accentuated the whiteness of his cuffs.
“See how far we’ve come”, she whispered just above her breath. With a sustained gaze on her husband, she seemed temporarily lost in that moment, peeling off layers of memory to arrive at the beginning of their love’s journey.
They had both met at the University of Lagos in the early nineties; 1992 to be precise. Both were undergraduates in the Engineering Faculty. While Bayo was studying Electrical Engineering, Jade studied Chemical Engineering.
Bayo who came from a humble background, had the privilege of highly principled parents; retired civil servants whose moral integrity had been mirrored before their children well enough for them to imbibe the same lifestyle and discipline. Bayo’s parents’ modest retirement home in Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos was a far cry from the mansion-like Ikoyi home of Jade’s retired army General dad who doted on her as his last born child.
Brilliant, neat, respectful, good looking and with great sense of style, Jade could not help noticing Bayo since Year One. He didn’t have much but made the little he had look much. They found friendship and were mutually beneficial to each other, sharing knowledge and offering support to each other. It wasn’t until their fourth year that the flame of romance was kindled. Bayo never entertained the possibility because of the difference in their backgrounds. More so, he could pick from a pool of girls who shared the same background as his and had shown no little interest in him. Jade, however, must have been gifted with foresight to know what kind of great future lay ahead of him. And she played her cards well.
His first visit to Jadesola’s place in Ikoyi was during the first semester break of year 4. It was her birthday. Bayo got a card and ordered an 8 inch cake from Mr. Biggs which he picked up on his way to her. He made his way from Ikotun to Oshodi in a Molue. From oshodi, he took a danfo to Obalende from where he hailed a yellow cab that dropped him off at 10,Thompson avenue, Jade’s palatial Ikoyi home.
Jade’s house was a beehive of activities as her friends from neighboring Ikoyi, Victoria Island and the not-so- far Surulere had invaded her house for the party.
Though course mates from school, some of Jade’s other friends, mostly the Ikoyi boys, some of whom had a thing for Jade but never got a chance, spared no opportunity to push the class card in order to put Bayo “where he belonged”
Of course, Jade made him very comfortable. So also did her two best friends, Bola and tayo, who knew her very well and respected her choices. (Kudos to good friends). The whole birthday experience ended on a positive note for Bayo who had felt a bit intimidated by the palatial residence. He did get over the awe gradually and managed to ease into the evening’s fun.
There were several visits afterward both during their industrial attachment placement and the second semester break. On all occasions, Bayo never broke tradition; from molue to danfo and taxi cab on the last lap.
Not until their final year first semester break did Jade demand to know his place. Bayo had helped with her project and she felt a ‘thank you’ visit to his stead was in order. She insisted and Bayo gave in reluctantly. What made her demand more interesting was her insistence on experiencing his commuting style, shunning a chauffeur-driven ride that was readily available to her.
The visit happened. She met Bayo’s parents and one other sibling as the two older ones were already married and gone. Bayo’s parents warmed up to Jade quite well, particularly since their son had introduced her as his girlfriend. They made her feel at home with a rich lunch table of jollof rice, chicken and vegetables. Sitting around the meal table, they threw banters, laughed and emptied the food bowls in unending scoops. Jade obviously had a lovely time. Bayo escorted her back to Ikoyi using the same mode of transportation that brought them.
Before Jade’s visit to Bayo’s, the news of her relationship with him had filtered to her parents who were not going to support any such idea. As is typical of people of her class, Jade’s mum had already started arranging another General’s son for her daughter. Her friendship of many years with the boy’s mother had to deliver enduring ties that spilled into the next generation. Besides, she felt the young man was good for her daughter. She had mentioned it to Jade before but her daughter would have none of it; she simply shut it down. In trying to play the mother card, she had confronted her daughter with the information about she and Bayo being an item. Jade admitted without flinching. A distraught and disagreeing mother relayed to her husband her disappointment with their daughter’s choice. They both became united in their resistance of the relationship.
Next time Bayo would visit Jade at home was when they had finished their undergraduate program in Unilag. Despite their being averse to the relationship, she had told her parents he was coming over. On his arrival, she introduced him as her boyfriend. Bayo could notice the disapproving looks hiding behind their courteous welcome. To disentangle him from the unease Bayo felt in her parent’s presence, Jade suggested that they go for a drink.
As they drove out of her parent’s compound, she broke the silence and told Bayo that she noticed what went on inside.
“I knew it would be that way but wanted you to experience it yourself so that you know what we’re up against.” She continued “But as for me, you’ve got me, and you could take that to the bank any day.” Her laughing eyes engulfed him completely.
Bayo managed a smile. This reassurance from her could only mean one thing – she was really serious about their relationship. His confidence in a future where she’d feature as his queen got restored. He was ready to ride this life out with Jade come what may.
Jade paid Bayo another visit. This time around, she asked Bayo to come for her so she could drive down to his. The reception was even warmer. It took just one more trip before she mastered the sequence of turns and twists that led her to Bayo’s house. No more need for calls or assists; she could make her way to where her heart desired anytime.
On graduation day, both parents came to share in their children’s day of joy. Their paths, however, did not cross. Bayo finished with a first class while Jade finished with a 2.1. Though Bayo and Jade shared a photo opportunity with his parents, he never did with Jade’s.
For NYSC, Jade got posted to Lagos, and got a placement at Chevron, while bayo was posted to Port Harcourt and was seconded to an engineering firm. Both stayed in touch and visited each other on occasions, as the service year would permit.
There were love interests for Bayo in Port Harcourt. Often tempted, he fought to the limits of his elasticity. He gave in in unguarded moments but always found his way back to Jade. What he had for her was too strong. Jade, on the other hand, had more suitors to even deal with especially since she worked at chevron. Somehow both survived the year and reconnected post-service. Luckily, Jade was retained at Chevron. Bayo, on the other hand, had the option of being retained at the engineering firm, but the lure of the banking industry and its enormous prospects made him take a chance on Lagos. He returned after an extra year of work in Port Harcourt. He had to save up some cash in anticipation of an MBA abroad.
Before leaving PH, he had sent out several job application letters alongside his CV to different banks in Lagos. He was lucky to have received interview invitations from a number of them. A couple of weeks before leaving PH, one of the new generation banks he had sat two levels of their recruitment interviews offered him employment. Jade was over the moon with excitement when she got the news. “Bayo, finally, I can breathe” she gushed.
Bayo distinguished himself at the bank and within the space of a year got promoted twice. His vision of bagging an MBA in the UK was not going to be rested. When he mentioned it to Jade, a switch came on in her head; she would apply for a Masters program in a UK university. In no way would she lose her boyfriend to the UK girls. Those were her exact thoughts. She was able to secure a study leave from her organization after some back and forth with the HR department. Bayo had to resign his appointment even though he had the option of making it a leave of absence. However, he was fast becoming aware of his personal worth and he knew how much of value an MBA from a top school in the UK would add to him.
While Jade went to Oxford for her Masters, Bayo with all his hard-earned savings and support from his parents went to London Business School. In no time the two were done and both finished summa cum laude.
Meanwhile, while in the UK, Jade never failed to impress her decision on her parents, especially her mum, to go all the way with Bayo. At first, she would dismiss it, but when Jade refused to call or speak with them for four months after putting her foot down that she would only call when they were ready to respect her wishes, they knew the strength of her resolve. Even her uncle in the UK, with whom she spent some holidays couldn’t broker truce between them.
Eventually she won. They bent over. She received a text message from her father indicating that they would respect her wish and that she had their blessings to go ahead with her conviction about Bayo. Jade called her Dad that day, thanked him for honoring her and promised not to disappoint them.
It was at Jade’s graduation at Oxford that Bayo would set his eyes on her parents and other siblings again. This time, it was a different air between them. More so, Bayo no longer fitted into the image they had of him; he had changed. He was more suave, more gracious and even more respectful in his interactions. General would not let this new observation pass. In an aside to Bayo, he had said “You come across as a remarkable young man. Congratulations on bagging an MBA from the prestigious London Business School” Bayo gently beamed with delight as he thanked his soon-to-be father-in-law.
Bayo’s graduation was two days apart from Jade’s. Bayo’s mum and his elder brother who had relocated to the UK were the only two who could make it down for the ceremony. Jade and her mum were there too. It was a perfect first time for both mums to meet each other.
The ceremony went well and some familial cords were put in motion. Jade had already been accepted by Bayo’s parents. Ever since he had brought her home, they had thought of her as a great choice for their son. With the kind of upbringing their son had, they were confident that he would attract the right type of woman. As it turned out, the love seed planted and watered in Nigeria had now sprouted and budded in the UK. The graduation ceremonies were actually about the cementing of the two families.
UK was kind to the two lovers who were fortunate to get good jobs after their Masters degrees. Gathering international experience was a value they were not going to trade away. It would look good on their CVs and open wide doors for them into Nigeria’s corporate space. Bayo was the first to return to Nigeria, lured by the several mouth-watering offers from companies and banks he had forwarded his CV to. He left the UK after 18months of work and picked up a job at Citibank in Lagos. The perks of the job were so good that, in no time, he started making plans for his engagement to Jade; an idea he mooted to her parents. They were totally in support. By the December of 1999, at the annual Christmas party at Jade’s house, Bayo popped the question. Of course, it was a “Yes”
Six months down the line, the two families were introduced at a small but superlative ceremony at Jade’s parents’ compound. Fast forward to December 23rd, 2001, Jade and Bayo got married at a very lavish wedding that was the talk of the town. In attendance were Jade’s best friends and some of her male friends that doubted the survival of her relationship with Bayo.
The two sets of parents were overjoyed as both of their last children got married to each other; a love story that defied class or background prejudices, but inspired hope, faith and genuine love.
It’s been 18 years together, and things have shifted dramatically for these two. Bayo has become Group CEO of his chains of company with international offices across the world, while Jade had resigned her appointment with Chevron after 10 years to join Bayo as the Group COO of their thriving companies.
The power couple now lives in Banana Island, Ikoyi. Bayo had pulled down an old house he bought on Holloway Road, Ikoyi and built a new duplex for his parents, just a stone’s throw away from Jadesola’s parents’ home.
Blessed with three lovely kids – two teenagers studying in undergraduate schools abroad and their last born, a final year student as St Saviors primary school, Ikoyi – you could almost tell that this grand vision of order, progress and affluence was what Jade saw that made her unwavering in her commitment to Bayo. His simplicity, humility, intelligence and sense of balance back then, she figured, was a true alchemy for superlative success. In truth, her belief that “your background doesn’t determine your foreground” is true.
These undying memories wafted across their minds as their eyes remained locked. The journey from Ikotun to Ikoyi seemed an appropriate capture of the story of his life. He let go of his gaze slowly as smiles formed around his outer lips.
“I purposely got you the three in one set of the molue, danfo and yellow cab cufflinks from the FC Accessories Lagos collection as a reminder of your…our life’s journey together” Jade said with a smile.
She continued, “Your dreams were not small or limited because you rode in them. Rather, they each spurred you on, moved you and your dreams to utopian heights. I was part of the dream then.” Jade laughed out loud. It was a genuine laughter full of gratitude and pride.
“Each time you wear any of them, they will serve as the reminders of our journey; how we arrived here. It will also tell our children how our love is truly from Ikotun to Ikoyi.” Jade concluded. She snuggled up to Bayo, wrapped her arms around him and heaved a sigh.
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