Office romances are tricky. One day, you’re borrowing a stapler or splitting a ride after work, and the next, you’re doing genital meet and greet away from your co-workers. But when things get serious, it’s not all smooth sailing—especially with office policies, nosy colleagues, and unspoken rules.
We spoke to five Nigerians about their office romances that became something more, and their stories prove that your colleague might be the LOYL.
Emeka*
For me, it started with casual banter in the office group chat. I had this cute colleague who’d always make sarcastic comments about my contributions, and I’d respond with witty comebacks. We didn’t talk much in person, but those chats became the highlight of my day.
One rainy evening, I ran into her at the office gate. She didn’t have an umbrella, so I offered to share mine. She was heading in the same direction as me, so I gave her a ride home. On the way, we stopped at a restaurant to grab dinner, and after that night, we started hanging out more often.
Six months later, we’re still going strong. I switched departments to keep things professional, but we still share the inside jokes that started it all. We even call each other “office bae” in front of everyone to throw suspicion off. The irony? Our colleagues have no idea there’s something real going on.
Esther*
I joined the company fresh out of NYSC, and from the first day, I noticed my partner. He was that guy—always well-dressed, polite, and seemingly in charge of everything. At first, it was just admiration. But then, we ended up on the same team for a major project.
Working closely meant a lot of after-hours calls and “let’s sort this out later” moments. I tried to keep things professional, but I laughed at his jokes and agreed to lunch dates a little too quickly.
I said yes when he finally asked me out after the project ended. We dated quietly for over a year before he proposed, and now we’re married. Sometimes, I wonder what would’ve happened if we hadn’t been on that team together, but I’m grateful it all worked out.
Binta*
I knew from the start that dating Segun* would cause trouble. He was a senior manager, and I was a mid-level analyst. Office policy explicitly stated that senior staff couldn’t date subordinates, but we didn’t plan to fall for each other.
We tried to keep it under wraps for as long as possible. We scheduled lunch dates off-site and acted like polite strangers during team meetings. But Nigerians like to gist, and eventually, HR summoned us for “a conversation.”
Segun had to make a decision, and it broke my heart when he resigned so we could be together. He did say he’d planned to leave eventually and start his own business, but I couldn’t shake the thought that our relationship influenced his choice. It’s been three years since he left, and we’re still together.
Bola*
My office romance started innocently enough. He offered me a ride home one Friday when I was stuck in the rain. Traffic was brutal, so we started talking, and before I knew it, we were laughing like old friends. After that day, we began sitting next to each other during meetings and hanging out during lunch breaks.
But things got serious after I had an embarrassing period pain episode at work. He drove me to the hospital, waited with me, and even brought snacks. At that point, I knew this wasn’t just friendly banter anymore.
We started dating secretly because we didn’t want the whole office in our business. Of course, Nigerians are observant, and it didn’t take long before people figured it out. Thankfully, the office didn’t mind.
Gbotemi*
She was the HR officer who signed off on my employment letter, so I thought she’d always keep things strictly professional. But over time, we’d run into each other at work and talk about random things like office stress and football. That’s how I found out she was a huge Chelsea fan.
The turning point came during a company retreat. We spent a lot of time together, away from the main group, and talked about everything—career goals, family plans, and even past relationships. I learned her relationship was on its last legs, and while I wasn’t actively searching, I didn’t mind being with her.
But the thought of a scandal involving HR and a co-worker kept me from making a move. After months of careful planning and watching our backs, I finally asked her out. She said yes. Now, we’re official but still act like familiar strangers at work. If things get more serious, one of us might have to leave. It’s not company policy, but we agree it might be best.
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