A “No” Has Never Led to a Sweeter “Yes!” See How Love Happened For Jummai and Toyosi

BNW July 5, 20260 Comments

While some love stories begin with a “yes,” Jummai and Toyosi’s began with a “no”—a simple “no” that would eventually become the sweetest “YES!”

They first met in secondary school, and after one bold question, an unexpected twist of fate, and a simple tutoring arrangement, they laid the foundation for a love story neither of them saw coming. Years down the line, they’ve grown from being just two teenage friends to soulmates for life! As they embark on their forever journey, they’re serving all the romance with a stunning pre-wedding shoot. From their stylish looks to the effortless chemistry they share, every frame has us even more excited about their love. Their love story is one of perfect timing, growth, and beautiful surprises, and we have a feeling you’ll enjoy every bit of it!

Enjoy their pre-wedding shoot and love story below:

Their love story, as shared by Jummai:

I met Toyosi in secondary school in 2010. We had never spoken a word to each other before, but he asked me to marry him. Lol. I was sixteen, very reserved and withdrawn, and I kept most people at a distance. So I said no. God had other plans. A few weeks later, my Economics teacher said I was failing badly enough to need a tutor, and he assigned me to the same boy I had just turned down. He was excellent at Economics. I was good at Biology. We struck a deal: he would help me with supply and demand, and I would help him with cell structures.
What began as tutoring sessions slowly opened me up. The conversations outlasted the lessons. He had a way of bringing out the light and personality in me that I had kept hidden for years. Somewhere between past questions and biology diagrams, we became friends, and then more than friends. The boy I said “no” to became the person I wanted to say “yes” to.

The university took us to different countries, but it never pulled us apart. We stayed close through every semester, every exam season, through med school, and through every version of ourselves. We were young, but we were steady. A few years ago, we started planning our marriage, but life asked us to pause. My father was diagnosed with a brain tumour and needed surgery, so I stepped back to be with my family. That season showed me what his commitment looked like: patience, prayer, and choosing me even when the timeline changed.

We’ve been through enough together; we’re basically like an old married couple. Maybe it’s because we keep choosing each other, through distance, delays, disappointments, and joy. We don’t love perfectly, but we love honestly, and we don’t do it alone. Our faith is the third strand in this cord. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken,” Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us. When we were weak, God held us. When we were tired, He gave us the strength to hold each other. God has been writing a story we could never have planned. We are grateful for every season that brought us here, and we are expectant for every season ahead.