Valentine’s Day 2012: Couples, Youths Show Some Love

 Valentine Couple: Mr. and Mrs. Olalekan Isaac picking a Valentine card at Ikeja City Mall this morning. Photo: EMMANUEL OSODI.

Feb 14, 2012 – Valentine’s Day 2012: Couples, Youths Show Some Love

Nigerian Couples in their hundreds trooped out to shops, supermarkets and hangouts today to buy gifts for their lovers to commemorate the Valentine’s Day.

One of them, Mr. and Mrs. Kalejaiye told reporters at the premises of Shoprite, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, that they usually mark Valentine’s Day every year by visiting a place of interest.

The couple who are bankers on vacation said the day became significant in their lives because they wedded on 14 February, ten years ago.

An artiste, Tessy Brown said she was at Shoprite to purchase some gift items for her banker-lover in the morning.

She planned to buy a perfume, flower and cake while she will be going with her lover after work perhaps to areas of interest on Lagos Island.

Tessy Brown will not like to disclose her lover’s name because she said her man is publicity shy. She expressed optimism that their five-year old relationship will blossom into wedding very soon.

At Shoprite, Ogba, Mrs. Flora Egbe who took her children out to have a feeling of Valentine said they went to school this morning but she took them to the place to teach them the message of love.

Mrs. Egbe urged couples to imbibe the spirit of Valentine, which is love for one another. She added that she had sent a Valentine message to her husband this morning.

“Many people have arranged to do the celebration at hang-outs far from the school,” a student, Jide Adebodun said.

Meanwhile, a visit to the UNILAG campus revealed that most of the students are in the mood to join the rest of the world to mark the lovers’ day.

Most of them were spotted adorning clothing with a touch of red and white, while others have been exchanging gift items among themselves.

At the Lagos State University and Lagos State Polytechnic students have organised off-campus gigs that will take place later in the day.

Speaking with reporters some youths expressed divergent opinion on Valentine’s Day or marking the lovers’ day as if is widely known.

Chibuzor Ogbonna, a boutique operator in Lagos said, “what people celebrate today is not true but artificial love. Therefore, I don’t give a damn about it.”

Miss Titilayo Afape, a trader at Pen Cinema area of Agege disagreed, saying Valentine’s Day stands for agape love, which is the kind of love Jesus Christ gave to Christians.

“Valentine is not necessarily between couples, boyfriends and girlfriends alone but a time to share love with others,” Titilayo opined.

A commercial motorcyclist, (Okada rider) simply identified as Obinna said: “what’s there to celebrate in Valentine’s Day? What we have been celebrating before, what came out of it? ‘Oga’ journalist, leave me ‘jare.”

Francis Achuga, who described himself as a ‘born again’ youth corps member observed that the purpose of Valentine’s Day is to share love among the people adding, “the original purpose has been misinterpreted with people, especially youths taking advantage it to practice fornication.

“You will see people ask you, ‘can there be love without sex. This is not supposed to be. Instead of practising love, people now embrace lust.”