Happy 40th Birthday to my Sweet Girl...

The always smiling Ogiegbe

My BIG baby, the one I call "Sweet Girl" is 40 this Christmas Day, 2025.

Nne mhen ni khere..... My small mummy.....  Lol.

My beautiful wife, Rita Ogiegboria turns 40 on Christmas day 2025 and thinking about her journey from being that 26yr old I first met by chance, broadens the smile on my face.

I first met Rita on a cold rainy January night in 2012 at about 8pm in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland.

On this particular night, I was studying for my exams in the reading rooms of the Central Building within the Hillhead Halls of Residences then got up to take a walk in the hallway; A few minutes into my walk I noticed this pretty "damsel in distress" 😁 pulling in two big suitcases into the reception space of this building.

I was the only one within eyeshot and as the kind man that I am (Lol... Don't argue, just accept), I immediately approached her to help as she beckoned. After helping to pull the bags in, she asked me for directions to her own particular apartment. It was her first time in Aberdeen as she was just arriving from the US to resume for the January intake of an MSc program.

Much later after we were married, Rita states that she knew right there and then that I was her husband!..... but the Warri boy in me I just files that yarns under: "Ehn.... Na so women dey talk". 🙄

Well, still as the kind man that I am, as I was contemplating going back into the reading rooms to close my books and take her to her apartment building, I saw someone else who I knew was going in that direction she had mentioned so I immediately pleaded with the fellow to help take her to that building and then went back into the reading rooms to continue my reading.

A few weeks later, it was a UEFA Champions League game and a group of us guys were gathered at "Union Bar" which is also located in the basement of that Central Building, waiting for the match to start and in strolled this lady I met that night. She, a huge soccer fan, had also come to watch the match alongside her classmate, Damola, who then formally introduced her to me and the group.

Champions League Night: Damola is on the right.

Thanks to my not-so-small knowledge of the language of my ancestors... as soon as she mentioned her Nigerian name, OGIEGBE, I recognized that we were both from the Esan speaking part of Edo State and she was so happy to have met her "brother", you know, just like DAVIDO sang: 🎶She call me brotherrrrr, I call her sister too 🎶..... 😂😂.

After the football match that evening, we all remained in the bar generally talking about everything from Nigeria to studies and the future. This conversation continued into the night as we went to Damola's apartment still gisting and just happy to be in company of good people. She had made new friends and I now had an Esan sister to gist with.

A few weeks after that night, around the first week of February that 2012, Ogiegbe sent message to the group of us from that night, inviting us to dinner, promising us Pounded Yam and Egusi.

Ah! dinner ke? Pounded Yam and Egusi? In this winterland of Aberdeen, Scotland? You can trust us students...... we immediately accepted with joy and were present at that dinner with our empty stomachs... No Time!!! 😂😂

Receiving that dinner invitation, watching her receive us, serve us and feed us dinner that day sparked something in me and opened my eyes to the meekness and generosity of this my Esan sister.

After the dinner, I went back to my apartment and was thinking about the experience and the personality throughout the night... As in I nor fit sleep! What manner of kind girl is this, Oluwa? This is so rare, so free-minded. Is any other person in this our group thinking what I'm thinking? Lol...

Poundo & Egusi Boys 😂😂: L-R: Myself; Eshems; Kelly.

By the morning, I sent her a text thanking her effusively for dinner and promising to 'retaliate' with Pounded Yam and Ogbolo when she is finished teaching me how to make the Ogbolo. Lol....

A lovely friendship kicked off and we were texting/calling more frequently and generally just checking up on each other. I noticed too that she was so receptive of my friendship and advances because she really was happy to have met another Esan person in this far-flung part of the world.

Some few days to St. Valentine's Day in that February 2012, I was returning home after classes to the Hillhead residences, with my mind restless as I was debating what to do for my new friend this Valentine.

As I walking through the beautiful Seaton Park, I picked out and put together some beautiful flowers from the park... (Lol)... and walked straight to her apartment. Presenting the flowers as she opened the door, I asked her out to a movie date for Valentine's Day, to which she gladly accepted.

Na so my belle come dey sweet me as I dey bounce go back to my own apartment.... I knew the battle was 80% won.😁😁😁😁

How the date went and how the relationship progressed after that day to a marriage today is story for another day.... another post. Lol.

Rita & I with the Royal Family @ Madame Tussauds, London

Gatwick Airport.

At some ancient castle in Scotland. Waka waka just dey sweet us.

With Morgan Freeman's wax image @ Madame Tussauds

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to my sweet girl... The one I call OMON'OMOBA N'OGIEGBORIA of OWOBU Clan, in EBELE, Igueben; the kind, considerate and generous 26yr old from 2012 who turns 40 on Jesus' birthday this 2025.

My Edo Queen 😁

Cheers to the next 40, My Queen.

Thank you for EVERYTHING.

I love you so much.