[Couple Spotlight] ‘What NYSC has joined together…,’ How the Nnamdis found love while serving Nigeria

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is one of the oldest government schemes in Nigeria. Since it’s creation by the military regime of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon in 1973, the scheme has been credited as one of the fabrics holding the nation together.

Aside the 21-day military camp like activities for basic orientation course for the scheme, prospective corp members who are usually graduates of the various tertiary institutions are then posted to different organizations where they will undertake the one-year service to the nation.

The programme aims for unity by posting corps members from different parts of the country to another.

My couple for this week schooled in Ondo and Enugu respectfully. They didn’t even know of each other’s existence till NYSC posted them both to Gombe state. As luck would have it, they both arrived camp early and started talking almost immediately.

When camp activities fully kicked off, they were grouped into platoons. While Bose found herself in Platoon 2, Chuks was in far away Platoon 7. However, the difference in platoons didn’t post any risk as both were already getting along.

After camp activities, they were posted to  government agencies not far from each other for their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).

Fast forward to nine years later and Mr and Mrs Nnamdi are still basking in the euphoria of that love they found and nurtured to greatness at that NYSC camp. Married seven years, dated two with three kids to crown it.

Please sit back, relax and watch as these love birds relish how it all started in those NYSC crested khaki uniform.

 

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

Mrs Nnamdi: I can say it started unknowingly with a casual greeting. We were early birds at the NYSC camp in Gombe. He initiated the conversation by asking if I was hungry and needed to get anything. I felt that was quite thoughtful for someone that had no idea who I was. We had bought had a stressful journey getting to the camp and I felt everyone was supposed to look after themselves. So for someone in same shoes as I was to ask if I needed something was something I found very profound and touching.

Mr Nnamdi: I offered to buy her something at the camp when the orientation was just getting underway and she insisted that we should take a stroll to the mammy market that was just setting up at the time instead of me going all the way myself. I knew right there that I won’t back down until we say ‘I do’ to each other.

 

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

Mr Nnamdi: She politely rejected advances from fellow corps members, camp officials and military personnel even when I was yet to make my intention known to her.

Mrs. Nnamdi: He was always watching out for me and almost made himself a shield. He ensured I got everything shared in camp in excess before struggling to go get his.

 

3. How many years have you been together?

Both: Nine years. Dated two years and married for seven years.

 

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

Mrs Nnamdi: We don’t joke with those long walks like we did in NYSC camp. It often times reminds us of where we are coming from and where we are. It’s really a sweet way of reconnecting to the source of our love.

Mr Nnamdi: Kids or not, the spark has come to stay. Our meeting, friendship and subsequent marriage is an act of God and we do not take it for granted. We keep and regularly wear our NYSC kits around the home to remember how we started. Our children have also been told this fantastic story of our meeting.

 

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

Mr Nnamdi: I give my wife credit for this. She organizes spontaneous surprises every now and then. The kids and I can’t wait to have thrown another one.

Mrs Nnamdi: My husband doesn’t eat out no matter how tempting it gets. He’ll rather have them pack the food and bring it home for us all to eat together. I’m his sole food maker and that sort of makes me feel important.

 

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

Mr Nnamdi: We made it rule from day one to not allow our families interfere in our affairs particularly because of our different ethnicities. And that has really helped shaped our journey so far.

Mrs Nnamdi: No third party is allowed to have a say in our affairs. And even if we have disagreements, it’s never before the kids. And we settle that very day no matter who is right or wrong.

 

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

Mr Nnamdi: She still sings for me. She even has a couple of songs she recorded sole for me.

Mrs Nnamdi: He never stops being the one to first apologize even when it’s clear I’m the one at fault. When there’s a little tension between us, he would write sweet notes about how we met and how we should never allow avoidable issues put ‘sand in our garri’

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

Mrs. Nnamdi: Ours from beginning was a case of what NYSC has joined together, nothing can put asunder. The initial challenge we faced was people thinking on our behalf if our tribe difference was going to be an issue. However, we made it a strong point from the beginning that we knew what we wanted and our diversity in language was only going to be a strength other than a challenge.

Mr. Nnamdi: Whatever was supposed to be a challenge, we already thought of it and planned ahead. We know people would raise eyebrows concerning our language/tribe but we knocked it dead before it even became an issue. The beauty of it is that we are teaching our children to understand both languages and it is really beautiful watching them do excellent at it.

 

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

Mr Nnamdi: Never allow people love your partner for you. Defend them to the core where and when necessary and don’t open doors for outsiders to pound on your marriage.

Mrs Nnamdi: Your union will work if both of you want it to. It’s not a competition. Only two people in love willing to explore life together.

 

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

Both: An act of God!