Asking a girl to be your girlfriend is one of those unforgettable moments that stays with you—whether it’s perfectly romantic or hilariously awkward. So, how do you get it right? If you’re wondering how to ask a girl to be your girlfriend in a way that feels special and meaningful, you’re in the right place.
We spoke to 20 Nigerian girlfriends about how their partners popped the question and what made it memorable. If you’re tempted to just send a quick “Will you be my girlfriend?” text, these thoughtful gestures and creative surprises will inspire you to aim higher.
1. Make it personal with a thoughtful touch
Personalisation can turn a simple question into a moment she’ll never forget. Ada, 27, gushed over how her boyfriend made the moment unforgettable.
“He gave me a book I’d been wanting for months,” she says. “Inside was a note that said, ‘Will you make this book lover the happiest guy alive and be my girlfriend?’ I couldn’t say no.”
By choosing something meaningful to her — something she had been talking about for a while — he showed that he was attentive and thoughtful, making her feel seen and valued.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to the little things that matter to her. Whether it’s her favourite book, a hobby she’s passionate about, or something she casually mentioned, a personalised gesture speaks volumes.
2. Take her on an adventure she’ll never forget
Grand gestures don’t always mean roses and candlelight, sometimes, take it outside. For Halima, 30, her boyfriend created a moment that combined their shared love for the outdoors with a heartfelt ask.
“He planned a surprise hike and picnic at a resort in Ibadan,” she reminisces. “While we were overlooking a beautiful view, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I mean, I knew he was up to something, but seeing him pull through made me appreciate the intentionality behind it. I’d definitely recommend this for hopeless romantics like myself.”
The beauty of tying your proposal to an experience is that it becomes a memory tied to your shared interests — perfect for adventurous couples.
Pro Tip: Consider places with picturesque views like the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos, the IITA resort in Ibadan or the Obudu Cattle Ranch.
3. Keep it simple, but sincere
You don’t need to always go all out to ask a girl out — sometimes, it’s the simplest moments that hit the hardest. Bola, 31, appreciated the straightforwardness of her boyfriend’s approach.
“I’m not entirely a fan of grand gestures,” she admitted. “I like to observe and see it happen for others, but me? Please, save the drama. My boyfriend asked me out during a movie night. He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘I think you’re amazing, and I’d love to make this official. Will you be my girlfriend?’ It was simple and straight to the point, but I loved how confident he was.”
Not every woman wants a grand gesture. Sometimes, the perfect way to ask is to speak honestly and from the heart. Confidence and sincerity are always a winning combo.
4. Involve her friends for a big surprise
Friends often play a big role in her life, so why not include them in her special moments? Tomiwa*, 28, still can’t get over how her boyfriend made her feel loved.
“My boyfriend planned a surprise dinner with my friends,” she said, grinning. “ The cake came out, and it had ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ written on it. It was so sweet and thoughtful. I couldn’t stop blushing all night, and it was even better that my friends could share that moment with me.”
Pro tip: Ask her friends about some of her preferences, especially if she’s the type to enjoy attention in a group setting. If she’s shy, skip this one.
5. Pop the question during pride month
For queer couples, Pride is already a time to celebrate love. So, why not take it a step further? Oge*, 29, shares how her girlfriend made the moment unforgettable.
“We were at our first Pride event together, and everything felt so cute,” she remembers. “During a break, she pulled me aside, gave me a rainbow bracelet, and asked if I wanted to make us official. I blushed the rest of the day.”
If there’s a shared event or festival that means something to both of you, it could be the perfect backdrop for a relationship milestone.
6. Use a creative gesture she’ll always remember
Simply being creative can turn the question of asking a girl to be your girlfriend from cute to unforgettable. That’s exactly how it played out for Fatima*, 25, whose special moment felt like a scene straight out of a rom-com.
“He set up a scavenger hunt within his compound with clues leading to places we’d shared special memories,” she shares. “The final stop was him holding flowers and asking me to be his girlfriend. I’m sure he must have gotten the idea from TikTok, but I loved it. It wasn’t the most conventional and boring style of just saying, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’”
Listen, a little creativity goes a long way. Plan something unique — personalised playlist or handwritten notes — and she’ll always remember your effort.
7. Turn food into a love language
If food is the way to her heart, why not make it part of your plan? That’s how Amaka*, 29, was won over.
“He knows how much I love cakes, so he went all out and baked cupcakes that spelled out, ‘Be Mine Forever.’ I only wished he made more cakes because I just kept staring and didn’t want to dig into the cute cupcakes. But yeah, he got an A for effort.”
Whether it’s cupcakes, a special dinner you made, or even her favourite small chops, food has a way of speaking directly to the heart. Here’s a killer smokey jollof rice recipe for inspo.
8. Ask during a shared routine
The magic of routine is that it feels familiar — until you add a special twist. For Ngozi*, 29, her boyfriend turned their usual evening walk into something more.
“We always walked around TBS and had interesting conversations about our day at work,” she recounts. “It was a routine we’d grown into. I’d wait for him to come to my office or I’d go to his place if I closed early. One day, mid-walk, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I mean, I told him I wanted another date so we could properly celebrate. But he got my first yes on that walk. It felt so natural and romantic.”
Understand that the best moments sometimes happen in the places where you already share memories. Whether it’s your favourite walk route or park, remember, it’s not entirely about the location but the meaning you attach to it.
Pro Tip: Have a friend or a family member secretly tag along so they can help you capture the moment.
9. Surprise her during a low-key hangout
When you know the potential LOYL well enough, even a casual hangout can turn into a romantic moment. This was exactly what Ijeoma’s*, 26, boyfriend did.
“I’d always mentioned how I wanted to go on a proper amala date, and the day he asked me out, it was at my favourite amala spot on the island,” she shares. “He casually asked me after we finished eating. There was also a live band playing music, and the entire thing felt like a well-thought-out Yoruba Nollywood romcom.”
The lesson here? Fancy isn’t always the best option when you’re thinking of how to ask a girl to be your girlfriend — just make sure it’s meaningful to her.
10. Consider using sentimental gifts
Have you ever wondered why you always have doubts about discarding items in your home? Exactly. Sometimes, it’s not just about the gift; It’s the meaning attached to it. And that’s what Tolu’s boyfriend keyed into.
“I’m single now, but my ex-boyfriend made a scrapbook filled with photos and memories of our hangouts,” she shares. The last page said, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ It was so thoughtful and I don’t think anyone has topped that level of romance and intentionality.”
If you didn’t already know, here’s your cue to note that combining creativity with a sentimental touch is always a winning formula. For example, use throwback photos, keepsakes, or written notes to capture your shared story and make your ask more personal.
11. Make distance feel small with a thoughtful remote ask
Long-distance relationships come with their challenges, but the right amount of effort can make the sweetest moments possible. Uche’s* boyfriend couldn’t ask in person, but it didn’t take away from the moment.
“We had been doing long-distance for months, and one evening, he asked me to hop on a video call because he had ‘something important’ to tell me,” she recounts. “When I answered, he had a mini whiteboard with ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ written on it, and he flipped it over to reveal, ‘I already know your answer, but I want to hear you say it.’ I laughed so hard, but I won’t lie — it was cute. I said yes immediately.”
Pro tip: Small details — like a handwritten note, a surprise delivery, or a well-thought-out virtual date — can bridge the distance in a meaningful way.
12. Create a romantic moment with her favourite songs
If she’s a music lover, turn your playlist game up a notch. Ruqayyah*, 24, still can’t get over how her boyfriend popped the question using their favourite songs.
“My boyfriend made a Spotify playlist with songs that told bits and pieces of our love story,” she shares. “The last track was him asking me to be his girlfriend, and I gladly said yes.”
Music is deeply personal and a great way to say what words sometimes can’t.
13. Involve her family (If she’s comfortable with it)
If family means a lot to her, making them part of the moment can leave a lasting impression.
“My boyfriend asked me out during a surprise birthday for me,” Chidera, 27. recalls. “My siblings were in on it, and they all cheered me to say yes even though I already planned to do exactly that. It was really beautiful and I still don’t know how he managed to pull it off.”
To pull this off, ensure she’s comfortable with this public display before proceeding.
14. Make it a Valentine’s Day to remember
If you’re going to ask on February 14, it better be memorable. Tracy* still can’t get over how her girlfriend made the moment extra special.
“She planned a surprise picnic with all my favourite snacks. There were candles, fairy lights, and a handwritten note. After we ate, she pulled out a tiny box, and inside was a bracelet with my initials. Then she said, ‘Would you wear this as my girlfriend?’ I cried and said yes.”
Sure, Valentine’s Day proposals can be cliché, but with a personal touch, they can also be deeply romantic.
15. Or a birthday surprise she won’t expect
Birthdays are already a big deal, so why not add another reason to celebrate? Even better,you’ll never have a reason to forget your anniversary. Amara*, 30, recounts how her girlfriend pulled off the surprise.
“I was cutting my cake when I saw, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ written in chocolate on the plate. I thought it was just cute plating until I looked up and saw her looking nervous. I screamed , ‘Of course!’.”
Tying the ask to a day that already holds meaning can make it even more sentimental. If you need inspiration, you should read our article on impressive birthday cakes.
16. Take it back to where it all started
The best place to ask? Somewhere that already holds sentimental value. Aisha’s*, 30, boyfriend turned nostalgia into a romantic moment, and the result? He got a yes.
“We met at a bookstore, so months later, he asked me to meet him there. When I arrived, he handed me a book titled, ‘Aisha and Ahmed’s Love Story.’ Inside, he’d written, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ It was the sweetest thing ever.”
Bringing things full circle adds depth and meaning to the ask, making it even more special.
Pro Tip: Want to pop the question the same way? Nigerian printing brands like iPrints and Studio 24 have high quality photobooks with prices ranging from ₦30- ₦85k.
17. Make it a lowkey, Netflix and chill moment
Sometimes, the best moments happen when you’re just chilling together. Chiamaka’s* boo didn’t need a big spectacle to make the moment extra special.
“We were watching Netflix, and he suddenly paused the movie. He looked at me and said, ‘You know I really like you, right? Let’s make this official.’ It was so casual but felt so real. I mean, I paused a little because I didn’t see it coming, but he got a yes.”
To pull this off, make sure your movie selection is a solid rom-com that’ll get her blushing. For ideas, consider Jade Osiberu’s classic, “Isoken,” or Kemi Adetiba’s “The Wedding Party”. And if you’re not feeling these titles, you should check out these Nollywood rom-com recommendations which are available to stream on Netflix.
18. Make it a Godly affair
For some couples, faith plays a big role in their relationship, so what better place to make things official than your place of worship?
“We had just finished service, and we were sitting his my car, talking about the sermon,” Kenny*, 27, recalls. “Out of nowhere, he said, ‘I’ve prayed about this, and I know I want to be with you. Will you be my girlfriend?’ He said it with so much certainty and conviction, and I said yes without hesitation.”
If faith is important to both of you, a moment like this — rooted in shared beliefs — can make the ask even more meaningful. To spice things up a little, you should definitely consider a nice restaurant for their Sunday buffets, where prices usually start from ₦20-₦25k per head.
19. Plan a weekend getaway she won’t forget
If there’s ever a time to make a grand gesture, a vacation or weekend trip is the perfect setting. Derin’s man planned his ask around a relaxing getaway and got a yes.
“We had planned a short trip to Ibadan for the weekend, and I had no idea he had something up his sleeve. On the last night, after dinner, we took a walk around the resort, and he said something along the lines of, ‘I don’t want to go back home without making this official. Will you be my girlfriend?’ I took a moment to gather my thoughts and embrace him before saying yes.”
Listen, if you’re planning a getaway, it’s the perfect time to pop the question. Think of it as curating an experience that has a final destination. And it doesn’t have to be a grand getaway out-of-country or state getaway. It could be as simple as renting a short-let for the weekend. This article on how to plan a getaway will come handy.
20. Rent out your favourite restaurant for one hour
Sometimes, a little bit of planning and attention to detail can make a simple dinner feel incredibly special.
“He told me to dress up because he was taking me somewhere special,” Taiwo* says. “When we got to this cute fine-dining spot in VI, I noticed he had booked a private section just for us. As dessert came, the waiter placed a plate in front of me that said, ‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ in chocolate drizzle. I was blushing so hard, I almost forgot to eat.”
If you’ve got the coins, a restaurant ask can really elevate the moment, especially when done with a little extra thought — like a private table or a surprise message. And while we know that finding the perfect spot can sometimes feel overwhelming, this article on romantic restaurants is a good place to start.
While we hope this guide helps you secure the absolute LOYL, we also want to prepare you for any outcome. Here’s a helpful article on how to handle rejection like a pro.
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