Rela Tech Ship: We met on Facebook in 2012 and after 10 years of love story, our virtual connection culminate into a real world vow.
Adekunle a Software Engineer (27) and Damilola a Tech Lawyer (26) met on Facebook, after 10 years love journey, they went from Facebook friends to Forever Love.
ICYMI, catch the previous edition here
Rela Tech ship: is a love story of tech couples by NTBTS where we delve into their relationships, situationships, and maybe some entanglements.
Hello guys! Good morning. Please tell us your name and what you do.
Adekunle: Hello, my name is Adekunle. I am the Lead SWE for Dragnet Solutions with years of experience in programming and I'm 27 years old.
Damilola: My name is Damilola. I am Head of Legal and Compliance for Dragnet Solutions. I have a degree in English from Babcock University and another degree in Law from the University of Kent. Oh, I’m 26 years old too.
Nice! I can imagine what your workspace looks like with many certificates hanging on the wall. Oya let's get a lirru bit romantic. So where and how did you guys meet?
Adekunle: We met in 2012, on Facebook.
Damilola: Yes.
Wow, I should be like 12 then.
Adekunle: She was 14 while I was 15 then, we later realised that we have a mutual friend.
So, what attracted you guys to each other?
Damilola: I just thought he’s really smart, talking about physics and all. And our mutual friend really campaigned for him.
Adekunle: She was pretty different from other women and still different. She is kind, nice and she’s really fine. I mean, look at this damsel nau…
I’m blushing on her behalf. What was the first impression you had about your partner? Like, the first time you guys met, what was that thought that dropped in your mind?
Adekunle: I went to visit her in her estate and she didn’t let me in. And, oh she’s short.
Damilola: I had a very strict parent.
Oh, I understand. What was your first impression, Damilola?
Damilola: You look weird.
Ouchhhh. Reallyyy?
Adekunle: Not surprising, I do hear that a lot, because I’m skinny and shy. On our first date I went to pick her at home to a cinema and I met her mum.
Her mum?
Adekunle: The cinema was close to her house, her mum said we should be back by 4 and we were on the second movie around 4:30 when we started going back.
Damilola: We were running home.
Adekunle: Yes, we were running and on getting there her cousin was with her mum and her uncle too.
Her cousin?
Adekunle: Yes, they were questioning me.
How did you feel then, Adekunle?
Adekunle: It was really awkward and was only 15 years old.
I am just going to say it, you guys have quite interesting stories to tell your grandkids. So, who is the better cook?
Adekunle: Dami is the better cook but my pasta and beans is really good.
Damilola: Which pasta and beans?
Adekunle: But you said it yourself that my pasta is good.
Damilola: It was influenced by me.
Adekunle: She only suggested I added a recipe and she was like it is good but this can make it better.
Awww. Oya who is more romantic?
Adekunle: I think that would be me. I won’t say I’m more romantic, but mine is more vocal. I can count numerous ways that she has been romantic but I do think we are both romantics in two different ways.
So are we agreeing that you are more romantic?
Adekunle: Yes
Damilola: Yes.
Nice! Let's get a bit serious now. Have you both worked on the same project before?
Adekunle: We both work in the same company, so we have things that cut across each other. There are a lot of meetings; we literally had a 3 hour meeting together with some other people yesterday. And we try to assist each other where and when possible.
What was it like? How was the experience?
Adekunle: Well, the experience is always nice. We work well together. It is not like we have a choice, we are married and we are here forever.
Great. How do you balance work - life - relationships?
Adekunle: It is pretty easy for us.
Damilola: Initially it wasn’t so easy but we are trying to be better.
Adekunle: Working in the same organization for us personally, it makes our relationship better. We spend more time interacting with each other than we do if we are working in two different places.
Damilola: When I was working at a law firm, I use to see him for about 2 hours a day and sometimes 3.
2 hours a day? What about now?
Damilola: It’s a remote job so…
Adekunle: We both work remotely, it’s like we see each other every day, even every minute.
I think I love that. So can you tell me three things that you like or love about your partner?
Adekunle: Dami, you go first.
Damilola: Okay, ehm he can be very thoughtful sometimes.
Adekunle: Sometimes? Damn.
Damilola: He is a really sweet person when he wants to be.
Adekunle: When am I not sweet?
Damilola: That’s between me and you and he’s a really good dog dad. He takes care of our kid really well.
Adekunle: Yes, we have a Dog. Delicious, come and say hi.
Damilola: She is sleeping. She had a long day of doing nothing. And Adekunle still has that smartness I was attracted to then.
Adekunle: Definitely nau.
So, Adekunle, what are the three things that you love about Damilola?
Adekunle: She is exceptionally kind, she doesn’t always think she is but she’s exceptionally kind.
Damilola: To a fault.
Adekunle: Yes, to a fault. There are certain things that I will look at and feel like the person don’t really deserve, but she will do it anyway. And then even when the person does terrible things, she’s still be questioning herself. Maybe she was the one at fault, maybe she shouldn’t have been angry, and maybe she shouldn’t have acted in a certain way. Damilola is really smart – in a sure and also assuring manner – but she never wants to agree to it but she is really smart.
Aww. It is the way you are actually saying it for me.
Adekunle: She is smart, she is beautiful and a phenomenally great cook.
She is a phenomenally great cook, which means the pasta is inspired by hers right? I get that.
Adekunle: Before that she used to say, “Kunle you are the one making pasta because your pasta is better, then one day she said do you know how we can make the pasta better? Just try to add tomato puree to it.” I did and I was like, okay, this is really good.
Not trying to side with her, but I think she influenced it. You said you are good with beans and she kind of agreed with that but she’s the better cook.
Damilola: Thank you jare. His beans is trash.
Adekunle: My beans is not trash, we both like our beans in different ways but I know that my beans is better. People that come to our house and eat our food always prefer mine.
Damilola: That is probably because they have zero sense of taste in beans.
I can’t judge because I’ve not tasted it but one day I’ll come to your house and be the judge of this matter.
Adekunle: Alright. That’s it; smart, beautiful, phenomenal cook. And attractively annoying, like any time you annoy me and we move past that I just love you the more. That’s the truth, there is literally nothing she can do that I can’t forgive her for.
Aww. I like the kind of love you guys share here.
Adekunle: Yes, great love, great chemistry. It’s been a long one year of marriage.
Next question. What are three things that are deal-breakers for you?
Adekunle: 3 deal breakers for me? I don’t think I can answer that because I can’t think of anything that Damilola would do to me that I will say I'm done with this marriage. There is really nothing, you can think of the worst imaginary thing and I can assure you that I will not.
What about you, Damilola?
Damilola: Basically what he said.
Do you guys have a favourite brand?
Adekunle: She doesn’t have a favourite o. Damilola has this thing that we call phases, where she is completely obsessed and addicted to something for a period of time. At one point it was malt, and there was a time she was completely addicted to costa biscuits that I had to add like two cartons to the wedding present. Based on the events of the last few days, she’s on a magnum ice cream phase.
Damilola: I just had it in two days.
LOL. What about Adekunle?
Damilola: It is mostly tech with him. Samsung products, smart watches and one time it was this Ayamase thing.
Let's play another small game, this question is for Adekunle. What is your partner's favourite skincare product?
Adekunle: Damilola is not a skincare person, she doesn’t have all this skincare routine and the likes, she’s just natural and it is beautiful to see.
What is your partner's favourite fashion design brand?
Adekunle: I’m trying to think, probably Zara.
Oya Damilola it’s your turn. What is your partner favourite sports club?
Damilola: Lyon.
Adekunle: Yes, Olympique Lyonnais.
What food do you think your partner can eat every day and not get tired of?
Damilola: Spaghetti
Adekunle: Fact! It is something I've actually done before. I was ordering pasta every day.
What's your partner's favourite colour? And two fashion items he can't do without?
Damilola: Black. Short and Plain Tees.
That’s like Techbros uniform.
Damilola: And joggers
If you are going to be investing in a Naija Tech company, which would it be?
Adekunle: LemiFi
Damilola: PiggyVest
What tech opinion or legal opinion do you have that is like an opinion you will stick with forever?
Adekunle: When you mean tech opinion, do you mean probably programming language or tech in general?
Damilola: From the legal side, always, always contact the lawyer.
Okay, another small romance question. Have you ever woken up in the morning & watched your partner beauty sleep? What usually comes to your mind?
Adekunle: I woke up before her and I’m like damn, she actually agreed to marry me.
Damilola: I actually do (laughing).
This one that you just laughed I’m now very much interested in what you have to say.
Damilola: Are you sure I should say it?
Adekunle: Yes, sure.
Damilola: Laughing, I’m like… What is wrong with this one? (both laughing).
There's this insider rumour in the tech space that tech people are just ashawo. What do you guys think about it?
Adekunle: I’m not going to deny it, most of my friends are prostitutes. Well, except they find someone they like.
Who keeps the financial tab between the two of you?
Adekunle: You mean who holds the money? Oh, it’s her. She holds the money, and as soon as I get my salary I send it to her account.
If you are allowed to go back in time to 2013. That's 10 years ago, what would you tell your younger self?
Adekunle: Don’t fuck up with 2021 and invest in Nvidia.
Damilola: Don’t study law and don’t come back to Nigeria.
Thank you for having me guys, I do enjoy the time spent with you.
PS: (I didn’t ask them about the scale, because they broke it)
I love love
I love love this ❤️