[Couple Spotlight] The Emenikes: How two angry Lagos residents on mission to complain epileptic power supply at NEPA office ended up as Mr & Mrs

This right here is another reality to the fact that love is sacred and can be found in the funniest of places by people who are open-minded and intentional about finding one. 

How do you explain a rare case of a man and woman who left their homes for the then office of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN (formerly National Electric Power Authority, NEPA) with same aim of complaining about the epileptic power supply in their respective areas and demanding for improved service delivery only to be struck by a bigger assignment in love?

While they were both ranting about their pitiable power conditions at the then PHCN office, there hearts were busy recalibrating and doing realignments. In no time, mission was accomplished. Frustrations poured out for attention from the power service providers but something else was achieved – a fertile ground for love!

As days and time went by, their new found interest, (no longer of epileptic power supply, though that still persisted) also grew and matured from friendship to exchanging marital vows.

It’s been 14 years of that PHCN meeting and 11 amazing years of living life as Mr and Mrs. Join me as I unveil my next couple on the spotlight!

 

1. Can you take us back to how your love story started?

Mr Emenike: We met at PHCN office in Lagos many years ago. Light problem carried both of us there. My area had no light for almost one week, so I went there very angry to complain.

Mrs Emenike: Mine was transformer problem. Everybody in our street was complaining, so my landlord asked me to help report it. That day the office was full of angry people.

Mr Emenike: She was sitting beside me, still complaining about how her freezer food had spoiled because of no light. I laughed and told her my own was even worse because my barbing shop was suffering too.

Mrs Emenike: That was how we started talking. Before we left the office, we exchanged phone numbers.

 

2. What was the moment you knew “this is the one”?

Mr Emenike: What really touched me was how she handled her small business then. She was very careful with money and knew how to manage little things well. I saw that she was serious about life and not wasteful.

Mrs Emenike: For me, it was because he was caring and responsible. He always made me feel safe.

 

3. How many years have you been together?

Mr Emenike: We have known each other for 14 years.

Mrs Emenike: We have been married for 10 years.

 

4. What has been your secret to keeping the spark alive all these years, especially after the arrival of kids?

Mr Emenike: We still laugh together like friends.

Mrs Emenike: We try to settle issues quickly before sleeping.

 

5. How do you both make each other feel special, even in small ways? What fun habits have stayed with you throughout your marriage?

Mr Emenike: Anytime there is light after long blackout, I still joke that PHCN brought us together .

Mrs Emenike: And I always laugh because it is true. One thing we still do too is sitting outside together at night after the children sleep.

 

6. How do you handle disagreements or tough moments now, compared to your early years?

Mr Emenike: Before, we used to get angry fast.

Mrs Emenike: But now we talk calmly and try to understand each other better.

 

7. What’s one thing your partner still does that melts your heart?

Mr Emenike: The way she takes care of everybody in the house.

Mrs Emenike: The way he still buys small things for me from roadside markets because he knows I like them.

 

8. What was one of the biggest challenges you faced together, and how did you overcome it?

Mr Emenike: Money was not easy in our early marriage.

Mrs Emenike: But we managed together and supported each other until things became better.

 

9. What advice would you give to younger couples hoping for a lasting marriage?

Mr Emenike: Marry somebody that understands you.

Mrs Emenike: And learn to be patient with each other.

 

10. If you could sum up your marriage in one word or sentence, what would it be?

Mr Emenike: Peace.

Mrs Emenike: God has been faithful to us.