From the archive: I was literally minding my business when I received a DM from the Man of my dream.

Rela Tech ship: is a love story of tech couples by NTBTS where we delve into their relationships, situationships, and maybe some entanglements.

GetUrgent2K is Nigeria’s fastest-growing platform connecting people to quick, verified gigs that pay between ₦30,000 and ₦100,000. Whether you’re a student, stay-at-home parent, or side hustler, there’s always a way to earn on your own terms. Join thousands picking up work as filling large-scale surveys, in-depth focus groups, and mystery shopping exercises.

Start earning today. Sign up now.

---

Hello there, please tell us your name and what you do. Take your time to brag about your work too; being a techie is not easy.

Roland: My name is Roland, I’m a frontend developer, and I build web applications that are also accessible so that they can be used by people with disabilities.

Alice: I’m Alice, also known as alicethetechychef. I’m a vibrant and creative soul. I started my journey as a chef, and I’ve now transitioned into a dynamic product designer and manager. I’m witty, fun, and a very positive individual.

Let's get to the real deal, so where and how did you guys meet?

Roland: Funny story.

I registered for the 9th cohort of the HNG internship last year in October (I think), and I began engaging with her posts in one of the channels that were created on the Slack workspace. I was intrigued by her cheerful spirit and her display picture too (can’t deny that I noticed her beauty from afar). After a few banter in the channel, I slid into her DMs, and we got talking.

I noticed from her display name that she was a chef, and I jokingly asked her to be my sugar mummy (so that I could eat unlimited food. I like food, Don’t blame me lol).

Alice: We met at HNG 9. I was literally minding my business when I received a DM from Roland, the Man of my dreams (bombastic side-eye). He was very pleasant and even asked me to be his "sugar mummy in tech". We became friends, and he asked for my number.

God, when at the man of my dream? So Roland, have you been eating unlimited food? Or should I mind my business?

Roland: The food is still limited but e dey fill belle (glory be to master Jesus).

So when did you start dating? It started as a friendship, right?

Roland: Yes, it did. It lasted about two weeks.

Alice: Yes, we became very good friends, and slowly he became my bestie and baby boy.

Is plenty oo. So, when was the first time you guys met physically?

Alice: So we started dating remotely and met physically on December 31st. He invited me to his church (Celebration Church), and it was the best crossover service I’ve ever attended. I literally celebrated the new year with the LOML.

I’m not jealous.

Roland: Aww, I'm so emotional. I met my baby on the last day of 2022. I invited her to my church's crossover service, and this woman came with food (no cap, she came prepared because the Jollof rice was very delicious).

Everyone is just doing baby (side-eye). What was your first impression when you met each other?

Roland: This is nostalgic. I remember her pulling up to the door with her luggage (women never pack light), and I opened the door to beauty.

I immediately felt warmth because I got exactly what I ordered.

Alice: So he told me before we met that he's 5’4" or so, but I was very surprised to see a very tall guy, and I felt short beside him. Besides that, I was very excited.

I forgot to mention that he gives the best hugs.

How long have you been dating before you finally decided to meet each other?

Roland: We've only been dating for about 3 weeks and some days (we started dating on November 5th, and we met on the 31st).

Alice: Less than 1 month.

Who is more romantic between the two of you?

Alice: He’s more romantic I never thought I’d meet anyone like him. I’m so blessed.

Roland: She is. She amazes me every day. Be like na draw.

So sweet. Who is the better cook?

Alice: You dey whine me? I'm definitely better.

Roland: She is. I leave it for her (Diswan pain me sha, but I don gree for my oga).

Agba chef.

Alice: Na me be that

What are your favorite activities that you enjoy together?

Roland: Watching movies, studying the Bible, eating (I know it’s weird, but I enjoy eating with her lol).

Alice: We love watching movies and eating together. Even though we banter about the exact movie to watch, I love romantic comedy and he loves action movies, so we try to make it work. We also study the Bible daily. This was very new to me, but I’m loving it now.

Have you guys ever worked on the same project before?

Alice: Yes, we have. We're currently working on a project (an app for creatives) that'll be live on the App Store in September.

Roland: Yes, we have.

Our first project together was during the early stages of our relationship. She got a gig with a startup, and I was one of the developers working on the project.

She’s the product manager and the lead product designer on the project (technically, she's my boss, and she’s a very sweet one).

What was the experience like?

Roland: Peaceful. She is very comfortable to work with because of how well she communicates.

Also, the other designers were easy to work with. We had no issues.

When did you know you were going to make this a forever thing?

Roland: Whenever I tell people this, they look at me funny, but I knew I had found my wife in the third week of us dating.

She just gave me a very wholesome sense of joy and peace. I knew I had found a good thing, and I needed to keep her forever.

Alice: I actually didn't know. I had trust issues due to all the heartbreaks I had experienced, but after we met physically, I had peace within me, and I began to look forward to it forever.

What are some of the most memorable moments you have shared together?

Roland: This is very tough to answer because every day is memorable. If I were to pick some, the top of the list would be when we exchanged promise rings and when I proposed to her.

These will always be replayed in my memory.

I love it for you guys.

Alice: Every day holds unforgettable moments for me. Over the past seven months, I've been greeted each morning with heartwarming messages from him, and the butterflies in my belly still flutter with excitement. Some days, tears of joy fill my eyes as I read his messages, while on other days, I can't help but burst into laughter.

I’ll forever cherish the day he proposed. I don’t know how he pulled it off with my entire family. He’s such a sweet man.

How do you balance work-life-relationships? Because many of us are just struggling ó. Make we no drown.

Alice: Our connection is founded on intentionality, and we make it a priority to share our daily plans with one another. This open communication ensures that we both know each other's whereabouts and activities at any given time. We wholeheartedly understand that maintaining strong communication is vital for the success and happiness of our relationship.

How do you express love and affection towards each other?

Roland: Some of the love languages that we both share are words of affirmation and acts of service. She writes really well when she does, and I know she likes hearing sweet words, so I send her good morning messages at least 5 times a week. I also help her with cleaning her nails and helping her research whenever she needs information for a project.

Alice: We both understand that love is best expressed through consistent care and affection, so I make a point of reminding him of my love regularly, knowing that words of affirmation mean a lot to him, and he reciprocates the same.

I also show my love by giving thoughtful gifts that go beyond just simple boxers, tailored to his interests and desires.

Our relationship is grounded in genuine love and appreciation for one another.

Lmao, it's beyond boxers for me. Now questions for you two. What is your partner's favorite food?

Alice: This is easy. Jollof rice and chicken. I thought I loved Jollof rice till I met him.

Roland: Easy. Pasta (spicy spaghetti).

Roland, what is her favorite skincare product?

Roland: Eii. This one was a bit challenging, but I noticed she uses vitamin C serum the most.

Her sister has a skincare brand, so she gets the best treatment.

---

Need a professional business address in Lagos without the high costs? Our virtual office service provides you with a prestigious address, mail handling, and business support—perfect for freelancers, startups, and small businesses looking to build credibility. Work from anywhere while maintaining a strong business presence in Lagos.

Sign up today and establish your Lagos business presence effortlessly!

---

What are the three things you love about each other??

Roland: Hehehe. I could list more than three, but my top 3 would be:

Her wisdom. She is very wise and gives me very good and actionable advice.

Her sense of humor. She can be goofy most times, so whenever we’re on a call and I’m working, she starts singing with a funny voice, and it lightens my mood.

Her willpower. If she says she’s going to push a truck up a hill, she will look for a way to do it. She doesn't give up easily.

Alice: I love how peaceful he is (I’m the gbas gbos one). I love how he takes good care of me.

He can do anything humanly possible to make me happy, and I’ve always wanted a man like this because I'm the same way too.

I love how he loves God. He’s very God-fearing, and it’s beautiful to see.

Roland: See my life outside (lmao), Aww glad to know you admit I’m the peaceful one.

Love is in the air, I need a face mask. So, tell us, what's your love language?

Alice: My baby’s love languages are:

Words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service.

All five of them. Baba too like better thing.

Roland: Well, she already spilled the beans about mine, so I’ll say hers in this particular order:

Words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, receiving gifts, acts of service.

Have you ever woken up beside your partner before? What comes to your mind when looking at them?

Roland: Yes, I have. She looks beautiful when she sleeps, and I always imagine when it’ll be a permanent thing to wake up next to such an amazing person.

Alice: Yes. I couldn't stop staring at him. I couldn't believe I had all of him to myself. To be honest, I consider myself really blessed, and I do not take this for granted.

I'm still in awe that I'll be spending the rest of my life with this incredible human being.

What are the things you both look forward to doing together?

Alice: I’m looking forward to waking up every day beside this sweet man, building a home and an empire together, and going on vacation.

Roland: I’m looking forward to building a family with my lovely wifey.

I’m also looking forward to visiting my wife in her office at Google.

It’s too much, but let me stop here, abeg.

There's this insider rumor in the tech space that techie people are promiscuous and that we don't do commitment. What do you guys think about it?

Roland: Well, I haven't had any reason not to be committed. I think it just boils down to discipline and contentment.

I can’t speak for other techies, but this tech bro is content with what he has.

Alice: I used to think the same until I met Roland, but over time, I’ve met a lot of techies who actually want to love and be loved, but they’re all skeptical.

Some are afraid of shooting their shots, some are very misunderstood (it takes a lot to date a techie), while others are just introverts.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t promiscuous techies sha. Everyone should keep their eyes open.

On a scale of 1 - 10, what would you rate your partner?

Roland: A solid 100/10 because no one comes close to my baby.

Alice: Omo!!!!! 1,000,000/10…. I call him the BEST in everything! He has a PhD in the love thing.

---

Rela Tech Ship series is back, and this time, we want YOU to be a part of the magic. Share your experiences and let’s make Fridays fun again. 💻❤️

Your stories, your vibes – let’s go!