Nigerian men have been consistently dragged by the beard on
social media for being manifestly unable to express affection or
exhibit romantic behavior”. They are accused of not hyping
photos properly when the women who love them send those jpegs,
and the ones above 30 have been frequently berated for dozing
off right in the middle of movie dates. As a matter of fact, it
has been argued that Nigerian men are “genetically incapable” of
pulling a Ryan Gosling (a la The Notebook), or a Leonardo
DiCaprio (per Titanic).
To be fair though, how many men will choose to swim in icy water
to prove their love? Throw in the challenges of Nigerian daily
life – heavy Lagos traffic, hustle for that daily 2k, the
constant reminder of Sapa – and the thought of romance
immediately flies out the window.
However, pulling off a movie-like romantic evening with your partner in Nigeria is not entirely impossible. In fact, you don’t have to break the bank for a beautiful weekend with your significant other. If your definition of a romantic weekend is a visit to the cinema or an evening with movies indoors, or “come over so we can cook”, then come with us, let’s show you something that will switch up your (hitherto) drab existence.
1. Go To The Spa With Your Partner
Going to the spa isn’t for women alone. Interestingly, this is
one of the best ways to relax and chill with your partner after
a busy week. Get that body massage, partake in Yoga activities
together if available, and see how this quickly helps you bond
with your partner on an entirely different level. If you want to
go the extra length, you can take manicure and pedicure
treatments as a couple. In fact, you can take a bubble bath
together with scented candles and a bottle of champagne.
A day in the spa won’t necessarily dig a hole in your pocket;
there are a number of cost-effective spas out there begging for
your patronage. You can even call for home service and some of
the country’s finest masseurs will work those joints of yours:
Duna Massage runs an effective mobile massage service across the
country. So, get to it; few things are more exciting than a
relaxing evening with that one person you love most in the
world.
2. Enjoy A Romantic Dinner Together
Sometimes, we fall out of love because we fail to do all the beautiful things we did at the start of a relationship. Dinners aren’t just for special occasions; they should be a regular feature in your shared life together. Spice things up this weekend by planning a dinner with boo of life. Get dressed, wear your most expensive perfume, and act like you are trying to win your lover’s heart once again. Book a table at an exquisite restaurant with candles and the complete works, talk about how it all started, fall in love all over again. Venues like Churrasco, which overlooks the seaside at Victoria Island in Lagos, help with the right ambience. Best if you spring it up as a surprise.
3. Plan A Getaway Weekend
A getaway weekend is a popular option among Nigerian couples,
but its popularity doesn’t make it less enjoyable. There are
tons of serviced apartments around the country, all located in
strategic locations. Be sure to pick a location that has fun
activities you’d like to engage in as a couple. It could be
close to a cinema, an amusement park, a resort center, a club,
or even a beach. You can also visit a hotel or a resort; the
Whispering Palms Resort in Lagos is a great start. There is also
Tarkwa Bay on Lagos Island if you don’t mind a 25-minute boat
ride.
Do something new. Dance in the dark. Chase each other while
hurling beach sand. Go on long walks together… but remember that
Nigeria could be volatile in terms of security, so look over
your shoulders from time to time.
4. Go On A Road Trip
A road trip in Nigeria is not impossible. Yes, interstate travel
is a gamble these days, but you don’t have to leave your city to
complete a road trip: cities like Ibadan, Calabar, Lagos, and
Abuja are big enough to keep you driving for the whole day.
Taking a road trip with your partner is one of the best ways to
enjoy a romantic weekend together; visit new fun spots, try out
new meals together, snack in the car like children, and shuffle
the auxiliary cord while singing along to the music playing like
it’s James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke.
This is also a great option if Sapa has had you on the
counter-attack lately: it’s a lot cheaper than a candle-lit
dinner, so, what’s not to love?
Pro-tip: If your city is traffic-laden like Lagos, choose your
routes wisely. You don’t want to be stuck in gridlock by 2.00
am.
5. Enjoy A Quiet Weekend Indoors With Your Partner
If you and your partner are introverts who don’t mind seeing out
the weekend with just movies, music, and slow dancing in the
dark, then this is the option for you. However, to forestall
anything that remotely hints at boredom, make a list of fun
activities for the entire weekend. Here are a few ideas:
👋 Listen to your favorite songs together and enjoy a
mock karaoke session
👋 Write a bucket list together
👋 Dance slowly to romantic songs. (Not to worry, here’s
a playlist for you.)
👋 Give each other oily massages. You can use candles and
indie music to set the mood.
👋 Read books or poems together…if you’re into the arts,
that is.
👋 Draw up a list of romantic movies to watch. Nollywood
has got tons of them: Kambili, Finding Hubby and Small Chops are
few examples of light-hearted romcoms.
👋 Order pizza and exotic wine
Sounds good? Start making plans then! Don’t be restricted by the
collective forces of laziness and/or lack of time. Maybe this is
that push that your relationship needs…or not.
6. Mix Things Up
What’s the ultimate romantic idea? A combination of two or more
of the aforementioned! You could plan a road trip, slot in a
surprise dinner, and end the night with romantic movies. You
could get a massage together, then dinner, and music to end the
night. Let your creativity go wild. Understand your partner,
find out what works for them, and like mixing cocktails, try out
different combinations to boost your love life.
Most importantly, don’t try to be Ryan Gosling or Brad Pitt;
just be yourself. You won their heart, now is the time to remind
your partner that you don’t want to lose them. Also, if you are
outside the door of their heart and you are trying to get in,
this is how to be intentional about it.
For the aggressively single, let your hair down. Slide into that
DM, ask someone out on a date this weekend. Chill, take a deep
breath and allow someone to soften you up. Don’t be a stubborn
he-goat. Bless you.
