Chioma and Saliu found love during the Christmas holidays!
About five years ago, Saliu met Chioma in the beautiful streets of Scotland. Growing up as a Nigerian there in Scotland, Saliu least expect to find his type of wife, but Chioma changed that narrative. Now, these two are counting down to their big day.
Enjoy their love story and beautiful pre-wedding photos.
How they met, as shared by Saliu:
Growing up as a Nigerian in Inverness, Scotland, I never in a million years expected to find my wife there – it’s not exactly a place filled with others of my background.
However, In 2017, after finishing my master’s programme, I moved to Surrey, England where I began my career. But every Christmas, I would unfailingly come back to spend the season in Inverness with my family. I knew where I’d be every Sunday – my parents pastor a church in the town.
It was here, on 22 December 2019, that I first laid my eyes on her… I’ll never forget the moment… I had seen beauty before, but nothing like this. I specifically remember feeling my heart skip a beat the moment I saw her. Our eyes locked, and I couldn’t help but let out a sheepish smile, to which she reciprocated.
Who was this stunning girl who had somehow ended up here? Well, Chioma (hailing from Abuja) had spent the last five years studying pharmacy in Aberdeen, Scotland. For her first year of practice, she was posted to my hometown of Inverness (of all places).
Chioma had very recently started attending the church, and it was just another Sunday for her. Ever playing it cool, I didn’t approach her after the service, but I had a feeling the right opportunity would come.
However, I would later learn that she certainly ‘noticed’ me ‘noticing’ her. As a newbie to town, Chioma didn’t have family or many friends around. As was the custom, my parents would invite to our home anyone in the church who didn’t have people to spend Christmas Day with.
I had my chance. It was here that we actually talked for the first time. The conversation was easy, and flowing, and it felt like we had been waiting forever to speak to each other. Little did we know we had both received the most special Christmas gifts of both of our lives.
We saw each other a few more times over that Christmas period. But between those meetings, we spent every moment getting to know each other more. You know how it goes: the texts graduate to voice notes, which evolve into phone calls, which mature into video calls. Something was happening.
Alas, I had to travel back to Surrey to resume work. Chioma was of course disappointed I was leaving, thinking this burgeoning romance would fizzle out. But I was completely calm.
You see, our meeting was no coincidence. From Abuja to Aberdeen… to Inverness… to attending the same church… and finally in front of my eyes… It’s clear to see how God orchestrated our meeting. I told her not to worry. I knew I would see her again very soon – somewhere, somehow. I knew we had no choice but to make it work. Today, I am grateful to say that Chioma is my wife.
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Photo credit: Getty