“From meeting at Warri fish market to saying I do,” Everything worth knowing about The Ebis’ eight-year love journey so far

I have said it countless times here that love matter and everything concerning it does not have a home. It can come up unexpectedly anytime and anywhere.

It does not foretell it’s coming and the opportunity presented maybe lost and never regained if not handled well. Despite how crowded, rough and unorganised a typical public market in Nigeria can be, some people were still patient enough to notice themselves, strike a simple conversation and convincingly follow up long after the market meeting.

I know there are lots of people out there who might never forgive themselves for allowing a moment of friendly whisper pass all in pretence for waiting for a perfect moment that may never happen again.

At least as at their first meeting day, Mr and Mrs Ebi were complete strangers who never noticed they lived quite close to each other until after that market encounter. However, they were intentional about wanting something out of that meeting.

Despite the inconveniences, they exchanged simple pleasantries that would later for the bedrock of their eventual friendship and love life. It’s been eight years of that market encounter and six years of waking up daily together as lovers.

You want to find more how a fish market can join people in love? Take a listen to my latest Warri couple below:

 

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

Mr Ebi: We met at a fish market in Warri. I had gone there early in the morning to buy fish for my mother, and she was also there with her younger brother. The place was busy, and everyone was trying to get what they wanted.

Mrs Ebi: I remember that day because he helped me pick up some things that fell when people were rushing around.

Mr Ebi: We discovered we lived not too far from each other. After that day, we started greeting whenever we saw each other, and the friendship slowly grew.

Mrs Ebi: I never imagined that a normal market visit would introduce me to my husband.

 

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

Mr Ebi: I knew when I noticed that she was someone who brought peace wherever she was. Even when things were not going well, she didn’t make everything feel worse.

Mrs Ebi: For me, it was when I saw how responsible he was. He was not just a person who talked about plans; he was someone who worked towards them.

 

3. How many years have you been together?

Mr Ebi: We have been together for 8 years.

Mrs Ebi: And we have been married for 6 years.

 

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

Mr Ebi: We try not to let stress change the way we treat each other. We remember that we are husband and wife, not just parents.

Mrs Ebi: We also apologise when we are wrong. That has helped us avoid keeping unnecessary issues in our hearts.

 

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 Ebi: She always keeps something aside for me whenever she cooks something I enjoy. Even when there isn’t much, she thinks about me.

Mrs Ebi: He likes calling me funny names depending on his mood. Sometimes I wonder where he gets them from, but they always make me laugh.

We also talk about our day everyday before sleeping, no matter how busy we are.

 

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

Mr Ebi: Before marriage, we both thought love meant avoiding problems. Marriage taught us that problems will come, but how you handle them matters.

Mrs Ebi: Now we try not to attack each other. We focus on the issue and not the person.

 

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

Mr Ebi: She notices when I am tired. Sometimes before I even say anything, she already knows I have had a stressful day.

Mrs Ebi: He still tries to make me happy even when he is busy. He doesn’t forget the little things that matter to me.

 

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

Mr Ebi: One challenge was learning how to balance our individual goals with building a family together.

Mrs Ebi: We overcame it by supporting each other’s dreams. We understood that one person’s growth is good for the whole family.

 

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

Mr Ebi: Don’t be too quick to give up when things become difficult. Every marriage has seasons.

Mrs Ebi: Learn your partner’s heart. When you understand someone, it becomes easier to love them.

 

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

Mr Ebi: Teamwork.

Mrs Ebi: A simple love that keeps becoming stronger with every season.