Rela Tech ship: She came to visit her sister, my HR manager and from there, she fell for the boy.

Henry and Lola met when Lola visited her sister, who was Henry's Human Resource manager. Despite a rocky start and Lola being in a relationship, their connection blossomed into unexpected love.

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

Hi! Tell us your name and what you do.

Henry: My name is Henry Omofowan. I'm a software engineer, and I've worked with multiple startups in Nigeria and abroad.

Lola: Hello, I'm Lola, and I just transitioned into UI/UX design. It's like a whole new experience, going from teaching to designing, but it's worth it.

If I may ask, what made you transition into UI/UX design?

Lola: Honestly, (deep breath) no other reason than because of Henry.

Henry: Which Henry, though?

Lola: You were into Tech and you spiked my interest then.

Aww, that's lovely. So, let's get a bit romantic. Where did you guys meet?

Henry: There was this organization I was interning with then, O. Digital. Her sister was my Human Resource manager. Yeah, so she came to the office to see her sister, and from there, she just fell for the boy.

Lola: That’s not true, joor. As of then, I wasn’t even single. How did I fall for you?

Lola, let’s hear your own part.

Lola: I went visiting at my sister’s place of work as he said. I went to see her, and she kept on insisting that I should go upstairs, that it’s more fun, blah, blah, blah. So, I went up and greeted the people, but this very rude guy did not respond. He just looked up, and he continued what he was doing… I was like, how rude? Unfortunately for me, the only seat available was beside him, so, I sat there, and we started talking. We had a really, really long conversation; we spoke about a lot of stuff in one day, and right there, I knew that this person was a cool person. But I was with someone, so I wasn’t thinking about a relationship – though the relationship was shaky and later ended – that was how Henry became my friend, even though he claimed he was not.

Henry: I no be anybody friend abeg.

Lola: He is actually a good friend; always pushing me to get better, to upgrade. I always look forward to us planning our day in the morning or evening, and that went on, and I realized that this person is a really fun person. A perfect blend. When it is time to be serious, we are serious, and when it is time to play, we do. And as hard as he seems on the outside, he has a very beautiful heart, and he loves kids.

Henry: I love kids, but I don’t want kids now abeg.

Lola: We were friends for a while. Talking about relationships and all, but it got to a point that I realized I was too scared to lose him, and then we took things to a new level.

What was your first impression when you met your partner? Lola, you said you felt like this guy was very rude, right?

Lola: Yeah, he was rude! I entered a place, I greeted everyone there, he looked up, he looked at me, he confirmed the fact that he saw me and he heard me greet everyone, and he just continued what he was doing.

Henry: I don't want any woman to distract me from making money, I was coding, and I was almost done. You know, I wasn't rude or something; I wasn't really in a good mood. After we met, it was a month later I took her number from her sister. My first impression wasn't really anything special like that. The conversation we had made me realize this is kind of different from other girls I related to because the dimension she took me to with that conversation was very impressive. But that day I was just angry because they haven’t paid my salary.

Lola: First you were rude and cool. I'm used to hanging out around guys. And the conversation we had that day was very cool and he has idea about almost everything, He is really smart.

Henry: Yeah, I'm smart.

Now a dicey question. Who is the better cook?

Henry: It's her now. I can't cook to save a life unfortunately. I'm learning sha.

Lola, what do you have to say about this?

Lola: Yeah, he's right. His noodles was hmmm

Henry: I can cook noodles o, ahn ahn, your burn burn plantain nko?

Henry, are you trying to blackmail her?

Henry: She is the better cook sha, no matter what I want to say. When it comes to cooking, she is fire!

Oya who is more romantic?

Lola: He is. He is more romantic. I’ve always been the hard girl all my life.

Henry: Ehm, I'm definitely the more romantic one. I'm always spontaneous. Yunno full of surprises but she dey try sha.

Nice! Have you both worked on the same project before? Probably designing or coding, or anything.

Henry: Initially, we have both volunteered for Women in Technology empowerment program and we both taught the kids programming languages. She has knowledge on how to code and knows how to use scratch, a programming language to teach kids how to code. And she also knows how to do video editing, so I think that is the first tech project we have both worked on together. It was before we started dating.

Lola: Yeah, but there were feelings then.

Lola, what was the experience like?

Lola: At first it wasn't easy, because when it's time for work he’d just be like “No, you can't do it that way, do it this way”. But with time I understood him.

How do you guys balance work with relationships?

Lola: There are a lot of times when we are working but we still talk to each other and there are times we set apart. And he is a night person and always awake at night but I like my sleep. So, a lot of times we talk while working and there are times we set physical days apart, where we meet.

Henry: Yeah, we communicate effectively. Like if any of us won’t be available or be very busy that week due to our schedule, we just let the other know. Like “Listen I’ll be very busy this week”. It has been a great experience so far.

Great! Oya how long have you two been dating?

Henry: 9 months

Wow. One year anniversary soon. How much do you guys currently earn?

Henry: 6 - 7 figures

Lola: 5 - 6 figures

Sinzu money! In naira or pounds

Henry: Abeg o, an Naira.

Oya let us play small games. Tell us the three things that you love about your partner.

Henry: She is very very intelligent, she is someone you can have any form of conversation with. She takes into correction and takes criticism positively. She is stubborn but makes sacrifices.

Lola: I love how smart you are. The fact that you positioned yourself as my leader, my mentor. I love how sweet you can be, God! You know how to take care of people and me in particular.

Can you tell us three things that are deal breakers for you

Henry: Someone who is financially illiterate. Someone who lacks good hygiene. Someone who has no integrity or drive he or she lives by.

Lola: Guys that are obsessed with women - if five women pass they turn to look at least four of them. Someone who lies - I don't care, white lie, small lie - I don't care, any type of lie. I don't like someone that is not concerned about people, I don't like when someone is not considerate.

Tell us what you see yourself doing in the next 10 years.

Henry: I see myself taking in Africa to a whole new level. I see myself taking kids from the street, and teach them about technology and empowering them, not just in Nigeria but Africa in general. I see myself in the next 10 years as a responsible friend, husband, father, brother and son.

Lola: What you said was actually the first thing on my mind honestly; I didn't steal your idea o. I see myself training kids in tech-related stuff, like empowering them. I have passion of producing something and see myself having my own company producing something. And I see myself being a lovely mother, daughter and the best wife.

Oya another one. Henry, what is Lola's favorite skincare product?

Henry: She's a skincare person, nah she dey train me but she doesn't have a favourite.

Lola: Yeah, I don't have a favorite

Lola, what is Henry favorite sport club?

Lola: Haa, trap.... He doesn't have a favorite. He just watch football.

Henry: No, I have a favorite club

Lola: It is one weird club name like that, not any of those popular ones

Henry: It is not weird, Baba. It’s Real Madrid

So, what is the food that you think Henry can never get tired of.

Lola: Wow, food right

Henry: If you fail this one.

Lola: Wait now, I know you really like goat meat, you can’t get tired of that

Henry: If you fail this one babe, food o not meat.

Lola: You love plantain

Henry: Plantain is just mehmeh, normal food, if you fail this one Ololade mi.

Lola: Goat meat and plantain

Henry: Its swallow

Lola: Is it pounded yam?

Henry: It's amala, and you're Yoruba. Why did you think I went for a Yoruba babe? As you are going just delete my number.

Henry: Me I know what you like o, Iya chicken. And Jollof rice with no onions. Vannilla ice cream with M & M toppings.

Who in Nigeria tech space you can’t wait to work with?

Henry: Njoku, founder of Lazerpay

There is a rumor of some kind of saying that tech people are Ashawo, what your stance on this?

Henry: Judging by 70% of my friends, it’s true. But the ashawo way is not really my way.

Lola: 80%, not even 70.

Have you ever woken up in the morning and watched your partner beauty sleep? What usually comes to your mind?

Henry: multiple times now…

Lola: I always wake up before you.

Henry: But when she sleeps in the afternoon, I'm like ah “Omo yi fine gan o”

Lola: I do admire him but instead of me to keep admiring, I'm like I can’t get enough of this person and I just wake him up.

If you can go back in time, like 10 years ago, what will you tell your younger self?

Henry: I will tell myself life is too short, so enjoy it with the people you love and find someone named Ololade and tell her you’re coming for her

On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your partner?

Henry: On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your partner? Baby answer first, ejoh oo. I feel we can all get better, ehm but omo make I no go enter trouble, 10. 10/10. She's a 10/10, she is smart, intelligent, kind.

But you said we can all get better?

Henry: Ah, we can. But she is still a 10.

Lola: Yes, I believe we can all get better but I'll still rate you 10/10. You came with some extra packages that are not even on my list.

Omo! Thank you guys for coming to my Ted interviews. It was absolutely fun chatting with you both. Let me just chip it in that I love the dynamics of your relationship… And God when?

Henry: Thanks for having us

Lola: Yeah, thank you jare. At least I found out you like Amala.

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