Gospel Artiste, Gbolahan Odukoya, ‘Agbanilagbatan’ crooner has finally welcomed a
baby with his wife after 9 years of waiting and two failed IVFs.
The excited gospel artiste took to his Instagram page to share this adorable photos and wrote;
“I’ll
need to update my Bio and add “Father” to it. After 9yrs with a
doctor’s report that we will NEVER be able to naturally conceive, after 2
expensive failed attempts at IVF, after tears and prayers and fastings,
declarations and songs written in hope……..SHE IS HERE!! Her mother is
recovering steadily at the hospital.
Bless the Lord O my Soul.”
Sometime ago, the gospel singer told their love story thus;
Gbolahan: We met at her home. I went there to look for a mutual friend who went to visit her. We met in 1997.
How long did it take you to woo her?
Gbolahan: A few months
actually. I was 20 years old and I just found her irresistible and
compelling. She was studying to gain admission to the university at that
time. I was already a student of UNILAG.
Was it love at first sight?
Gbolahan: No. The love grew but I was definitely smitten the first day I met her
What attracted you to each other?
Gbolahan: Her outgoing
and feisty temperament plus her beauty. Of course, her ability to speak
good English helped set me at ease with her.
Lola: His intelligence, friendliness and height.
What was your reaction when he told you he was interested in courting you?
Lola: We were young when we first started dating so, it was quite exciting to know he was interested in getting to know me better.
How long did you court for?
Gbolahan: Our courtship
was on and off with many years in between. She was my girlfriend when I
was 20 till I turned 22 and we broke up. Then I chased after her again
when I was 27 but she wasn’t forthcoming and I lost patience. We
reconciled when I was 30 and we got married when I was 31 and on her
30th birthday.
What convinced you to propose marriage to her?
Gbolahan: The fact that
she knew me. The fact that even after a decade of dating on and off, I
still found her irresistible. The fact that even after 11 years, we
were still compatible and hadn’t grown apart even though we had spent
many years apart and in other relationships.
How did you propose to her and what was her initial reaction?
Gbolahan: My proposal
was very unromantic and I’m not proud of it at all. We had gone to watch
a movie and I was driving her home when I simply asked her in the car,
“Do you know what? Let’s get married.” She immediately said yes. After a
few seconds, what had just happened dawned on her and she complained
that I didn’t even try to be romantic about it. I replied that we had
had too much history for me to have the emotional energy to be romantic
about the proposal.
Did any member of your families oppose your relationship?
Gbolahan: There was no
opposition whatsoever. In fact both our parents were so happy and
approved of our relationship. I was actually shocked at how easily our
parents gave their blessings.
How would you describe the years of being married to each other?
Lola: There have been
good years and there have been bad years. Just like life, there have
been highs and lows. Days when we are grateful to God we got married and
other days we wonder why on earth we chose each other.
What are those things marriage has taught you?
Gbolahan: Marriage has
taught me responsibility. It has taught me the virtues of patience. It
has also taught me that love is a verb, not a noun or an adjective. When
you truly love someone, there are things you will do regardless of your
emotional state. Love is commitment, pure and simple.
Lola: Patience, tolerance and compromise
If you had to change anything about each other, what would it be?
Gbolahan: I would
change her reluctance to go out with me instead of always staying home. I
would increase her involvement in both my business and music.
Lola: I would change
his reluctance to go on vacations with me and his overtly passionate
views about political issues; I would really like to tone that down.
Are you also music inclined and how much has his career rubbed off on your love for music?
Lola: Yes, I am musically inclined. I used to be in the choir.
What time do you create for the family and how do you spend this time together?
Gbolahan: We talk a lot
at home, watch TV together and go to watch movies once in a while.
Lola’s work schedule causes her to always want to stay home during the
weekends while I am busy as a musician and guitar tutor.
