Media personality, Matse Uwatse-Nnoli and her husband, Ekemelu, in a recent interview with Punch newspaper disclosed how they met, fell in love and more. See excerpts below:
How long have you been married?
Matse: We have been married for over a year.
How did you meet?
Ekemelu: I met my wife
on March 9, 2012. I remember because it was my brother’s birthday. I had
a project I was working on and the technician had an installation to do
. I had been to my brother’s place and was rushing to Lekki to inspect
the installation. While in traffic at Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island,
I saw my wife in her car and I admired her hairdo. I thought she looked
cute and tried to get her attention. Unfortunately, she did not look my
way because her windows were wound up and she was listening to loud
music. She sped off and I chased after her. I caught up with and
requested she pulled over. Matse complied even though she was shocked.
We talked and exchanged cards. I did not know who she was because I
don’t listen to radio.
on March 9, 2012. I remember because it was my brother’s birthday. I had
a project I was working on and the technician had an installation to do
. I had been to my brother’s place and was rushing to Lekki to inspect
the installation. While in traffic at Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island,
I saw my wife in her car and I admired her hairdo. I thought she looked
cute and tried to get her attention. Unfortunately, she did not look my
way because her windows were wound up and she was listening to loud
music. She sped off and I chased after her. I caught up with and
requested she pulled over. Matse complied even though she was shocked.
We talked and exchanged cards. I did not know who she was because I
don’t listen to radio.
Asides her braids, what else caught your eye?
Ekemelu: I noticed she
wore a tee-shirt with the inscription, Pink Pearl Foundation. I knew
about foundations because I had worked with quite a few. We discussed
about the foundation and I found the conversation quite intelligent. She
seemed my kind of person from the way she spoke. As I walked back to my
car, I told myself Matse would either be my best friend forever or my
wife.
wore a tee-shirt with the inscription, Pink Pearl Foundation. I knew
about foundations because I had worked with quite a few. We discussed
about the foundation and I found the conversation quite intelligent. She
seemed my kind of person from the way she spoke. As I walked back to my
car, I told myself Matse would either be my best friend forever or my
wife.
Matse: I liked the fact
that he read a lot. I have dated very few men in my life and he seemed
to be the most intelligent. He was someone I could speak with and he
knew more than I did. A lot of Nigerian men might be educated but not
enlightened.
that he read a lot. I have dated very few men in my life and he seemed
to be the most intelligent. He was someone I could speak with and he
knew more than I did. A lot of Nigerian men might be educated but not
enlightened.
When did you let her know you wanted more than friendship?
Ekemelu: I took my time
because she needed to know me. I did not want her to feel pressurised
and walk away from me. She stopped answering my calls at some point.
Eventually, we spoke again and after several meets, she met my mum. On
the first evening, I expected her to be shy but she got along with my
mum, who gave me a gift for Matse a few days later. This was a good omen
and we had not even begun to date officially.
because she needed to know me. I did not want her to feel pressurised
and walk away from me. She stopped answering my calls at some point.
Eventually, we spoke again and after several meets, she met my mum. On
the first evening, I expected her to be shy but she got along with my
mum, who gave me a gift for Matse a few days later. This was a good omen
and we had not even begun to date officially.
Did you develop cold feet when you realised she is a well-known personality?
Ekemelu: I did not know
who she was until some weeks into the relationship. I told her if I had
known who she was when we met, I don’t think we would have come this
far.
who she was until some weeks into the relationship. I told her if I had
known who she was when we met, I don’t think we would have come this
far.
How long was the courtship period?
Ekemelu: We met in March
2012 and we got married July 13th of the same year. My father married
my mum after three months of dating. I had been in relationships that
lasted longer and did not yield anything. In a short period, I had seen
so many qualities I liked.
2012 and we got married July 13th of the same year. My father married
my mum after three months of dating. I had been in relationships that
lasted longer and did not yield anything. In a short period, I had seen
so many qualities I liked.
Matse: I had been in
long relationships which did not make sense. When I met him, I found a
lot of qualities I liked. My mum told me the man I would marry would not
stress me.
long relationships which did not make sense. When I met him, I found a
lot of qualities I liked. My mum told me the man I would marry would not
stress me.
How did you realise she was the one for you?
Ekemelu: There was a day
I walked out of her apartment and we did not speak to each other for
four days. I used those four days to meditate. I asked myself if I
should remain with her or walk away. I told myself that if I decided to
stay with Matse, I would marry her. After four days elapsed, I went to
her apartment. When she opened the door, she looked relieved and hugged
me. She told me her mother said if I was for her, I would come back. It
was then I began to make marriage plans in my head.
I walked out of her apartment and we did not speak to each other for
four days. I used those four days to meditate. I asked myself if I
should remain with her or walk away. I told myself that if I decided to
stay with Matse, I would marry her. After four days elapsed, I went to
her apartment. When she opened the door, she looked relieved and hugged
me. She told me her mother said if I was for her, I would come back. It
was then I began to make marriage plans in my head.
How did you propose?
Ekemelu: It happened on
impulse. We were seated in the living room. While we discussed, I looked
at her and said we should get married. I liked her, she liked me and we
seemed to complement each other. She asked if I had an engagement ring
and I answered in the negative. I told her I would not give her an
engagement ring.
impulse. We were seated in the living room. While we discussed, I looked
at her and said we should get married. I liked her, she liked me and we
seemed to complement each other. She asked if I had an engagement ring
and I answered in the negative. I told her I would not give her an
engagement ring.
Matse: I did not expect
him to propose. We were having a conversation and he said we should get
married. I was confused and called my mum who had already seen his
pictures. She thought he was cute and right for me.
him to propose. We were having a conversation and he said we should get
married. I was confused and called my mum who had already seen his
pictures. She thought he was cute and right for me.
How have you handled her being in the limelight?
Ekemelu: She is an indoor person but I am the one who gets stopped when I am out. People stop me and ask if I am Matse’s husband.
How do you handle challenges associated with young marriages?
Ekemelu: The beginning
is always rough but we know that even the best marriages have rough
patches. We are both mature and even though our marriage is less than
two years old, we understand each other better.
is always rough but we know that even the best marriages have rough
patches. We are both mature and even though our marriage is less than
two years old, we understand each other better.
Who apologises first when there are disagreements?
Ekemelu: A lot of the
misunderstanding is caused by my wife. Most times, she is the one who
likes to vent and when she is done, she usually has a lot to apologise
for.
misunderstanding is caused by my wife. Most times, she is the one who
likes to vent and when she is done, she usually has a lot to apologise
for.
How do you celebrate special occasions?
Ekemelu: My wife and I
enjoy quality time even when we are at home. For special occasions like a
birthday or Valentine’s Day, we go to a resort where we are by
ourselves. Once in a while, we host small parties at home.
enjoy quality time even when we are at home. For special occasions like a
birthday or Valentine’s Day, we go to a resort where we are by
ourselves. Once in a while, we host small parties at home.
How has marriage and fatherhood shaped you?
Ekemelu: It has helped
me become health conscious. As a father and husband, you realise if
anything happens to you, you leave behind your wife and child. It has
forced financial wisdom on me because I have to think beyond now.
me become health conscious. As a father and husband, you realise if
anything happens to you, you leave behind your wife and child. It has
forced financial wisdom on me because I have to think beyond now.
Do you assist with house chores and the baby?
Ekemelu: I help out with
baby. As regards the household chores, it’s not as often as she wishes
but I engaged someone which is my own contribution towards helping out
in the house. So, I help with the house chores, it’s just that someone
does it for me.
baby. As regards the household chores, it’s not as often as she wishes
but I engaged someone which is my own contribution towards helping out
in the house. So, I help with the house chores, it’s just that someone
does it for me.
If you had to change anything about each other, what would it be?
Ekemelu: It would be her temper.
Matse: My husband has a
lot of good qualities. He is the type that wants you to be at his beck
and call, even if it means you putting food in his mouth. I want him to
be more involved with things in the home
lot of good qualities. He is the type that wants you to be at his beck
and call, even if it means you putting food in his mouth. I want him to
be more involved with things in the home
Do you have a joint account?
Ekemelu: I don’t own a
joint account with my wife because we have never spoken about it. Even
though I have a nine-to-five job, I am also an entrepreneur and my wife
is gradually becoming one. We have been building businesses together so
from that perspective, I see us having a joint account someday.
joint account with my wife because we have never spoken about it. Even
though I have a nine-to-five job, I am also an entrepreneur and my wife
is gradually becoming one. We have been building businesses together so
from that perspective, I see us having a joint account someday.
What pet names do you call each other?
Matse: We call each other ‘Baby.’