Headline
When We Got Married, No Family Member Came For Our Wedding – Nigerian-American Couple
Published
10 months agoon
By
Editor
Blessing, a Nigerian, and Jake, an American, opened up about their extraordinary journey to matrimony, defying cultural expectations and family resistance.
In an interview on Femi Lazarus’s YouTube program, Stories, on Sunday, the couple shared how they got married in Nigeria without any family members present, navigating obstacles with unwavering faith.
Blessing’s childhood was fraught with trauma, living under the strict and harsh care of her stepmother.
She described her upbringing as a time of fear and suppression.
“I grew up in a very strict environment,” she said.
“My dad does not smile; he does not say, ‘How are you?’ If he’s coming back from work, we would pretend to be asleep because your presence alone would get you in trouble.”
Blessing recounted a particularly traumatic incident at age five when her stepmother beat her severely, causing her to lose consciousness for three days.
“She beat me and hit my head against the wall… when I woke up, I was in the hospital on oxygen,” she recalled.
The experience left permanent marks on her forehead, serving as a constant reminder of her difficult past.
Jake, who was a missionary at the time, met Blessing through a Christian discipleship program.
READ ALSO: US Infant Mortality Spiked After Right To Abortion Overturned
Despite never having been attracted to Black women before, he felt a strong, immediate conviction.
“The first time I saw my wife on Instagram, I knew it was my wife,” he said, adding that he had never messaged a woman online before.
Their relationship developed over five months of long-distance communication, primarily through phone calls and video chats, during which they discussed their faith and life experiences.
The couple faced significant opposition from Blessing’s family when they announced their wedding plans.
Her relatives expressed doubts and fears about Jake’s intentions, with some even spreading rumours.
“My mom started telling people that I was marrying an organ harvester, that he was coming to Nigeria to harvest my organs,” Blessing disclosed.
She recalled her brother’s warnings not to let Jake visit Nigeria, fearing that he would be kidnapped.
READ ALSO: Asylum: UK Deports 44 Nigerians, Ghanaians In Single Flight Air Traffic
“There was just so much opposition from different sides, and I felt like I was under an attack,” she said.
The situation escalated to the point where Blessing’s health was affected, as she found herself falling sick frequently.
Jake was also confronted with the challenge of adhering to traditional Nigerian customs, which eventually led them to decide against a traditional ceremony.
“The Lord was saying we should not do the traditional wedding,” Blessing explained, noting that Jake was hesitant to proceed with practices he didn’t feel led by God to follow.
In the end, they opted for a small church wedding attended by fewer than 20 guests, foregoing a reception.
“We planned our wedding without seeing… after two weeks when he came to Nigeria, we got married.”
She explained further, “We just did court and church joining. The Lord was saying we should not do the traditional wedding.”
“I knew this was confirmation from God,” she said, recalling how the decision aligned with a divine message she had received about keeping things simple.
Jake paid the bride price to Blessing’s mother rather than her estranged father, whom Blessing had not spoken to in over a decade.
“I wasn’t going to pay bride price to a father that hasn’t taken care of his daughter for 13 years,” Jake explained.
READ ALSO: Pilot Reveals Those Behind Super Eagles’ Flight Diversion
The couple converted the traditional monetary exchange into a gift, following the advice of their marriage counsellor.
Despite the challenges, both Blessing and Jake believe their union is part of a greater purpose.
Reflecting on their journey, Blessing said, “God told me that He was going to connect two countries through me. This marriage is not just about us; it is a purpose.”
Jake shared similar sentiments, recounting how he had experienced divine visions and confirmation about their relationship.
“The Lord asked me, ‘Can I trust you with my daughter?’ It was the most fearsome experience of my life,” he recalled.
For Blessing, the journey has been one of healing.
“Growing up, I always felt like nobody loved me, like I was a problem,” she admitted. “But the love of God, coupled with my husband’s love, has really been great for me.”
As the couple continues their new life together in Abuja, they remain confident in their calling and the divine purpose that brought them together.
You may like
Rare 1937 ‘Hobbit’ Discovered In House Clearance Sells For $57,000
The Walking Dead’ Actress Kelley Mack Is Dead
Travelling To US To Give Birth For Citizenship Illegal — US Mission
Shooter Injures Five Soldiers At US Military Base
Trump Threatens 250% Tariffs On Foreign Pharmaceuticals
US To Revoke Student Visas For Those Who Skip Classes, Programmes

A medical light aircraft crashed into a small residential block near the Kenyan capital Nairobi, killing at least six people and injuring two seriously, a local official said Thursday.
The plane took off from Nairobi’s Wilson airport at 2:17 pm local time (1100 GMT) and was en route to Somaliland when it came down in Ruiru, Kiambu County, shortly after 3:00 pm (1200 GMT).
READ ALSO:FULL LIST: Ghana Releases Identities Of Helicopter Crash Victims
“We have lost four people, including the pilot… it was all fatal,” said Kiambu County commissioner Henry Wafula, adding that two people were killed on the ground. He said another two had been “seriously injured”.
AFP
Headline
FULL LIST: Ghana Releases Identities Of Helicopter Crash Victims
Published
20 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
The Ghanaian Government has released the names of individuals who died in Wednesday morning’s military helicopter crash.
The crash involved a Z-9 helicopter belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces, which lost contact during a flight from Accra, the capital, to Obuasi, a gold-mining town in the south, where the crew headed for an official engagement.
In a post via its official X handle on Wednesday, the Ghana Armed Forces said the victims comprise eight people.
The names and portfolios of the victims are listed below:
READ ALSO:Ghana Defence, Environment Ministers Killed In Helicopter Crash
1. Edward Omane Boamah – Minister for Defence
2. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed – Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
3. Muniru Mohammed – Acting deputy, National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture
4. Samuel Sarpong – Vice- Chairman, National Democratic Congress
5. Samuel Aboagye – Former parliamentary candidate
READ ALSO:Human Trafficking: Police Rescue 40 Ghanaians, Arrest Three In Ondo
6. Peter Baafemi Anala – Squadron leader
7. Manaen Twum Ampadu – Flying officer
8. Ernest Addo – Sergeant
Following the sad development, Ghanaian President John Mahama described the incident as a national tragedy and suspended activities upon receiving the news.
He also directed that flags fly at half-mast to honour the memory of the victims.
Headline
Bodies Of Helicopter Crash Victims Arrive In Accra
Published
21 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
The Ghana Armed Forces on Wednesday confirmed the arrival in Accra of the remains of the victims of the Z-9 military helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of eight personnel.
It stated that the victims’ bodies were transported from the crash site aboard a Ghana Air Force Casa aircraft and received at the Air Force Base in Accra on August 6, 2025.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director General, Public Relations, Ghana Navy, Captain Veronica Arhin, government officials, military personnel, and sympathisers led by the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Julius Debrah, were present to receive the bodies.
READ ALSO:Ghana Defence, Environment Ministers Killed In Helicopter Crash
The statement said the remains have since been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital for preservation and preparations for burial.
It noted that all eight bodies were recovered from the crash site located in the Sikaman area, near Adansi Akrofuom in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
The Ghana Armed Forces extended its appreciation to the people of Sikaman and the security services for their support during the recovery operations.
READ ALSO:Human Trafficking: Police Rescue 40 Ghanaians, Arrest Three In Ondo
“The Deputy Minister for Defence, Hon. Brogya Genfi, and the Military High Command extend their deepest condolences to the families in this difficult national tragedy,” the statement added.
The crash involved a Z-9 helicopter belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces, which lost contact during a flight from Accra, the capital, to Obuasi, a gold-mining town in the south, where the crew headed for an official engagement.
- NCAA Seeks K1 De Ultimate’s Arrest, Petitions AGF, IG
- FG Unveils Four Water Projects In Ogoni, Commits To Implementing UNEP Report
- FG Warns Of Flooding In Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, 26 Others
- INEC Gets 151 Party Registration Requests, Begins Screening
- Aviation Unions Begin Indefinite Strike Monday
- Sterling Bank Unveils First 30 Beneficiaries Of N2bn Scholarship
- Medical Plane Crash Kills Six In Kenya
- FULL LIST: Ballon d’Or Unveils 2025 Women Nominees
- Super Falcons Coach Madugu Nominated For 2025 Ballon d’Or Award
- Ballon d’Or Unveils 2025 Men’s Club, Coach Of The Year Nominees
Trending
- News5 days ago
Seadogs Champions Social Justice Through Inaugural Art Exhibition In Owerri
- Metro4 days ago
VIDEO: Lagos Residents Lament As Flood Overruns Communities
- Metro5 days ago
Hotel Under Construction Collapses In Edo Kills Owner
- Metro2 days ago
CBN, UBA, Others In Benin Given Ultimatum To Remove Their Buildings Or Be Demolished
- News5 days ago
7 Essential Blood Tests Every Adult Should Take Regularly
- News5 days ago
2025 Recruitment: Immigration, Civil Defence, Others Issue Important Notice To Applicants
- Politics3 days ago
Edo: Aggrieved APC Members In Oredo Accuse Party State Secretary Of Marginalisation, Want Okpebholo’s Intervention
- News4 days ago
WAEC Releases 2025 WASSCE Results
- Headline3 days ago
UK Opens Application For Chevening Scholarships
- News2 days ago
JUST IN: WAEC Shuts Down Result Portal Over Technical Issues