How did you meet your wife?
I met her in Benin City, Edo State as an undergraduate at the University of Benin. One day, I stepped out of my apartment to relax and I saw a fine girl passing by and she immediately caught my attention. We both exchanged pleasantries and she replied to me nicely. Later on, she started avoiding me when she realised I was a popular comedian in school.
She ignored my messages for over a year because she didn’t want to have anything to do with a comedian. She likes a simple life. Despite this, I felt something different about her and knew I would want to build a long-term relationship with her. Fortunately, the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities started and it afforded us time to get talking. We became friends, started dating and eight years later, we got married.
How were you able to maintain your relationship for eight years?
We were young and didn’t get into the relationship with plans for marriage. We only wanted to be friends and we kept getting better. Throughout our eight years of dating, we kept pushing and never broke up once. We connected on a different level and it helped us. After we graduated, we both went to our different locations but it became clear to me that I needed to have her beside me for life and couldn’t let her go.
What did you enjoy most on your wedding day?
One thing I enjoyed was friends, family and fans gathering together to celebrate with me like it was my comedy show, although I did perform that day. I was glad that I was getting married to her after eight years of friendship.
What are some of the qualities that attracted you to her?
My wife is a fastidious person, calm, understanding, caring and beautiful. I knew I couldn’t lose her because of the beautiful qualities she possessed. The fact that she is understanding despite my mistakes, crowns it all. She understands that we do not go to bed angry even if we have a misunderstanding.
Does your wife laugh at your jokes?
Contrary to what is obtainable with other comedians marrying their fans, I didn’t marry my fan. My wife is not a fan of comedy. She became one in the course of our relationship. I made her find comedy interesting. She got to understand that it was what I do for a living and what I believe in since I have been doing comedy for a long time even when it wasn’t paying. She focuses more on the business side of the craft and how it can generate income, which I appreciate a lot about her. I don’t test jokes on my wife, although she is a fun-loving and lively person.
What are some of the lessons you have learnt from your marriage so far?
I have learnt to be more understanding and ensure we are on the same page at all times to avoid certain issues. It has made me want to be closer to members of my family and think more about family and friends. Marriage and fatherhood have given me a different perspective on life.
As a comedian, husband and father, how do you balance your career and home?
It’s quite tasking but it’s the life I enjoy most. Balancing is living to me. I travel to Benin City every Monday to see my family and return to Lagos later in the week. I make sure to create time to be with my family and play with my daughter because fatherhood is a dream come true and a turnaround for me. We live in the moment and family is all we have. I have mentors who hold their family strong despite their busy schedules and I learn from them.
What is your advice to young people hoping to marry?
My advice to them is to be understanding with their spouses. Get married to someone who you want to be with for life. It might not be glamorous every day but it will be worth it as long as you protect the decision to stay with your partner at all costs except for certain issues such as domestic violence. Marriage is worth protecting and guiding, get someone you can do that with.
