From a Twitter DM to Forever: Bibi and Busayo's Love Story in Canada
From a Twitter DM to building a life together in Canada, Bibi and Busayo’s love story is one for the books. In this chat, they share their experience of navigating marriage, parenthood, and community in a new country—while keeping their Nigerian roots alive. From balancing love and money to their go-to date night tradition (hint: Instagram reels are involved!), they drop gems on what it means to truly build a life together.
What's your love story? Tell us a bit about yourselves, how did you meet?
Bibi: Oh, this one’s a fun one! We actually met on Twitter. He slid into my DMs one night saying how relatable my tweets were. I was like, “It’s late, can we rain check this?” At first, I didn’t feel any romantic vibe, I was more fascinated by his mind and also his deep love for God. But, you know, one thing led to another, and now here we are, married with a beautiful daughter!
Busayo: And I’m over here thinking, “What’s a rain check?” She graciously explained, and I knew she was a patient person. The next morning, I sent her another message, and we just couldn’t stop talking. I was drawn to her intellect and the way she expressed herself. I didn’t have romantic feelings at first, just respect for her thoughts and beliefs. From there, everything evolved. We have been together for over 5 years, and I couldn't be more grateful.
How long have you been in Canada?
Bibi: I’ve been here since January 2019. Yep, I’m the forerunner (inside joke, LOL).
What is the story behind that 👀👀👀
Busayo: Yes, I call her the forerunner because she got to experience Canada before I did. We got married in November 2019 but I didn’t move to Canada until December 2020 because, you know, COVID and the whole waiting forever process for my spousal PR. But hey, we made it work!
Oh wow, that’s a year of long-distance!
How has moving to and living in Canada impacted your relationship with each other?
Bibi: I’ve always wanted to live abroad and I’m grateful for the opportunity to. Interestingly, when Busayo met my father, he straight-up told him “Bibi does not plan to live in Nigeria, I hope you don’t have an issue with that”? It hasn’t had any negative impact on our marriage as we deal with one another in love and respect. It’s been a beautiful journey so far. Busayo also supports me to spread my wings and fly, I’ve never felt limited and I believe living in a less patriarchal system has made it easy for him to truly be himself.
Busayo: For me, the biggest takeaway is how we collaborate. If we want to do something, we are in it together. We have never been the type of couple that believes in “My money, my space, mine mine mine”. It’s ours and we make it work. Bibi is God sent to me, I’m so fortunate to be her husband.
What challenges have you faced as a married couple in Canada, and how have you worked through them?
Bibi: We started a local church in Oakville over two years ago, and it’s been a challenge balancing that with family and work. But it’s such a rewarding experience, and we are grateful to serve and grow this community. And hey, if you are in the area, come check out Standpoint Church Canada!
Busayo: For me, one of the biggest challenges is childcare. Without family nearby, it can get a little tricky, but we have got each other’s backs. Bibi’s an amazing mom, and I really wish we had more external help to ease the load. But we make it work because we are a team.
What’s life been like for you two in Canada? What are some of your favourite things about living here?
Bibi: Canada’s been a vibe! I used to live in the US, so I’d always find myself comparing the two countries. But now that I’ve got my Canadian citizenship, I’ve stopped with the comparisons, this is home now. I’m taking it one day at a time and enjoying myself. It’s so welcoming, and the multicultural nature of Toronto really resonates with me.
Busayo: Canada has offered us a beautiful, peaceful life. The work-life balance here is honestly top-notch, and I really appreciate how much time we get to spend together as a family.
What’s it like raising kids in Canada as Nigerians? How do you keep the culture alive?
Bibi: Raising a Nigerian-Canadian has been an exciting journey, blending both cultures and giving our daughter a rich cultural foundation. She’s already a fan of Nigerian food, she enjoys Nigerian dishes at home and Canadian food at daycare. and speaks to her family back home, so I’d say we are doing pretty great!
Busayo: For us, a big part of it is focusing on language and music. We want our daughter to grow up knowing both cultures and feeling connected to her Nigerian roots. It’s all about making sure she doesn’t miss out on where she comes from, while embracing where she is.Meanwhile, Bibi is out here expanding my food horizons, but let’s be real, Nigerian food remains undefeated in my books!
Speaking of keeping the culture, are there any Nigerian traditions you carried with you to Canada?
Bibi: Oh, we are a proper Nigerian family, through and through. Our home is filled with Nigerian food, we switch between Yoruba and pidgin in our conversations, and come summer, you will catch us rocking our Nigerian outfits like we never left. I love that we can bring our culture with us wherever we go.
Busayo: I don’t have any one specific tradition, but if there’s one thing Nigerians do best, it’s showing up for each other. No matter where we are in the world, that strong sense of community and support is something I make sure to replicate here.
How do you two juggle work, family, and personal time?
Bibi: Honestly, I don’t know how I manage it all! My friends joke that I’ve somehow discovered more than 24 hours in a day. But for real, it’s all about staying organized and efficient. I use tools like Notion to help me plan my day across work, ministry, and family.
Busayo: For me, I try to just live in the moment and appreciate each day as it comes. It’s all about finding joy in the little things and being there to support Bibi in everything she does. We’ve got each other’s backs, always.
What role does community play in your relationship?
Bibi: Community is everything. I always laugh when I meet Nigerians who say they are avoiding other Nigerians because of past experiences. I’m like, “Just wait, you will come around!” Time will show them the power of community based on affinity. Yes, diversity matters, but there’s something special about being surrounded by people who just get your experiences. You can’t underestimate that kind of support.
Busayo: Exactly! Community is crucial, especially when you are building a life in a new country. The right people around you can make all the difference.We have learned firsthand how valuable shared experiences and support are. One wrong move can make things tough, and sometimes, what you don’t know can cause unnecessary struggles. Community helps you navigate all of that.
What were your biggest "Wait, what?!" moments when you moved to Canada?
Bibi: Honestly, not much shocked me here, most of my culture shock moments happened while I was living in the U.S. So by the time I got to Canada, I was already a pro at adjusting!
Busayo: For me? Speed limits! I saw these wide, beautiful roads and thought, “Oh yeah, time to hit 120 km/h with ease.” But nope, do that here, and you will be getting a nice little ticket in the mail!
Do you ever get homesick? 👀👀
Bibi: Honestly? I don’t get homesick that often. Maybe it’s because life here keeps me so busy, or maybe it’s the fact that I can connect with home through social media, food, music, and conversations with friends and family.
Busayo: Same here, I don’t really get homesick. But on the rare occasions I do, I connect with Bibi, and we trade stories from when we were growing up, and boarding school experiences. It’s just part of the experience of living away from home.
If you have a chance to send one thing from Nigeria, what would it be?
Bibi: Just one thing? That’s tough! But if I must choose, I’d say a huge package of smoked catfish. Oh, and suya, lots and lots of suya! I can never get enough of it.
Busayo: Whatever my wife wants.
God whenn😂😂
Curious to know, what’s your dream baecation destination?
Bibi: I don’t have a dream “baecation” per se. For me, the destination doesn’t matter as much as the company. For me, it’s never about where we go, but who I’m with. As long as I can relax, laugh, and make beautiful memories with my family, I’m happy.
Busayo: Honestly? Home! I love being at home. If it weren’t for Bibi, I probably wouldn’t even travel. I mean, why leave when we are already paying rent here, right?
LOL…
What is your 1st lesson about love and money?
Bibi: Money makes life easier, but love is what makes it meaningful. I’ll always choose love over wealth. Trust me, I’ve cried on public transit before, and guess what? The world didn’t end!
Busayo: Both are important, but it’s key to strike a balance. Money should never control you; it’s just a tool. Love, especially God's love, is what makes life beautiful.
Preachhhh
What’s one thing your partner does that always makes you smile?
Bibi: Honestly? Just being himself. Everything about him excites me, his looks, his voice, the way he nurtures our daughter. But what truly makes me smile is how he allows me to be myself. I never feel like I have to shrink or edit myself around him. Growing up, I feared that marriage would make me lose my identity, but with him, I’ve only become more myself.
Busayo: She’s effortlessly charming, and I love that about her. She’s multifaceted, and I can’t get enough of it. The way she carries herself, her strength, and her tenderness all at once—it makes me smile every day.
What’s your go-to date night activity?
Bibi: We love watching movies together, but the real fun starts when we are analyzing the plot, dissecting the characters, etc. It’s always interesting to see how differently we interpret things!
Busayo: Movies are a must! But I also enjoy sending her Instagram reels. It’s become a quirky thing we do, half the time, we are just cracking up over random videos.
Sending IG reels should be the 5th love language!
If you could give advice to other Nigerian couples moving to Canada, what would it be?
Bibi: Remember that you are a team. Moving to a new country comes with challenges, but when you’ve got each other’s backs, there’s nothing you can’t handle. It’s both of you against the world, so cheer each other on and never lose sight of that.
Busayo: Work as a team. The key to success in any relationship, especially in a new country, is collaboration. You will get through the hard times, and it will make the good times even sweeter.
Photo Credit: MINA EJIEH PHOTOGRAPHY
Oyinkansola Ayorinde
Are you a Nigerian living in Canada? Do you want to share about your experience so far? Kindly reach out to me here
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