My marriage… With Gloria Chukwu (Lady Koikoi)

The subject of this story is the marriage of the reporter to her husband, Gloria Chukwu, also known as Lady Koikoi. The couple has been married for 25 years. Their paths crossed at an airport in Cairo, Egypt, when the reporter was in transit to Kuwait. Despite only exchanging pleasantries upon first meeting, Gloria gave the reporter her email address, and they began communicating through emails, letters, and phone calls.

The reporter herself did not anticipate this relationship evolving into marriage. However, she found Gloria to be a kind-hearted man, and eventually, he proposed during a 10-day vacation in Greece. Gloria's parents did not object to the relationship, as they were aware of Gloria's character and knew that her marriage to a non-Igbo woman must have been special.

The reporter's parents shared a similar sentiment, with the reporter's father simply asking if she loved him, to which she replied in the affirmative. Both sets of parents were supportive of the union.

The reporter recalls several memorable moments in her marriage. The birth of her son was her most cherished memory, followed by the family vacations they took abroad, which allowed them to enjoy special time together. Adjusting to life in Nigeria proved challenging, as the reporter and Gloria found it difficult to maintain the romantic atmosphere they had cultivated abroad.

For young couples, the reporter advises understanding each other, learning to tolerate one another, and respecting one another. She emphasizes that love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship over time and that partners should not expect their partner to change. Instead, they should be willing to change themselves if their partner desires it. Additionally, the reporter stresses the importance of using polite words such as "please," "thank you," and "sorry" to maintain a positive atmosphere in the marriage.