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Tag: Groom

  • Family laments as groom dies three days to wedding

    Family laments as groom dies three days to wedding

    • Heartbroken fiancee vows never to love again

    DECEMBER 23, 2023 would have been the happiest day for Abraham Basif and and his fiancee, Praise Enyojo Ahmodu. It was the day they had chosen to tie the nuptial knot with the engagement set to take place at Elder Ahmodu Jonah Omakoji compound, beside Central School, Abejukolo, Omala Local Government Area, Kogi State on December 22 while the church wedding was slated for CEFN English Church Abejukolo the following day

    Arrangements had gone smoothly in the days leading to the said dates until the groom was suddenly hospitalised for an undisclosed illness. Everyone was optimistic that Basif would be discharged before the D-day, but in a heart-rending turn of events, the joyful mood of the families quickly turned into a devastating tragedy.

    Basif died in the hospital three days to the wedding.

    The burial, which took place recently, saw the bride, Miss Enyojo Praise, wearing sorrow like a garment even as sympathisers took turns to register their condolences.

    The tragic incident was like a red hot knife driven into her heart. It prevented her husband to be from getting married to her for them to implement their shared dreams.

    The bride was in agony and kept sobbing in spite of the efforts sympathisers made to console her. Nothing, she said repeatedly, could replace her late husband to be because he was an honest, God fearing and hardworking young man.

    Praise had met the late Abraham in Lokoja through a mutual friend, following which they became friends and remained so until they decided to tie the knot as husband and wife.

    Amid sobs, the bereaved bride said it would not be easy to move on like a lot of people had advised. The late Abraham, she said, was the love of her life. Hence moving on would not be a walk in the park.

    “I will miss him. I missed his love. Having him around me was my strength.

    Praise said the death of her fiancé had turned what was supposed to be the best day of their lives into the worst.

    “I love you forever. It will always be me and you, no matter what. I love you unconditionally my gentle giant. You didn’t deserve this,” she said.

    Still in tears, Praise added: “My treasure, this mark is too heavy on me. Can I still love? Can I still find true love?

    “This was not what we planned. You gave up in my arms. I thought my struggle with you on the sick bed would end with praise and testimony as you always told me. This is too much for me. I am speechless.

    “I can’t believe you are no more. You are gone in such an embarrassing manner just three days to our wedding. I am speechless. But wherever you are, I will be with you.”

    Some friends of the late Abraham, who spoke to our correspondent, said when he took the decision to go out with Praise after a close observation, he asked them and they all agreed because the bride met all the mental picture of a wife and the appraisal was later confirmed by some of her church members who knew her.

    “They eventually met and began a relationship. After some time, the late Abraham began to sell the idea of marriage to her and explained the idea behind it.

    Read Also: I regret marrying four-year-old girl, 58-year-old, ‘groom’ laments

    “Gradually, the bride accepted and both of them got closer and began to tell their confidants about the idea.

    “They eventually concluded their consultation with their parents-in-law and started making arrangements about formalising it, which included seeing both parents, proposing marriage and fixing December 22nd and 23rd for the traditional and church weddings.

    A relation of the bride, Grace Amanyi, said: “We have been posting and anticipating your wedding, which is in less than three days. Death where is thy sting?

    “It is hard to say goodbye my in-law. You will forever remain in our hearts. Rest well till we meet to part no more.

    From wedding to funeral

    Friends of the late groom to be have since been thrown into mourning since he died three days before his wedding. Mr Theophilus Baba said the death of the young, promising man hurt him to the bone, “but God knows it all.

    “I never knew the day I came to see you in the hospital was our last meeting on earth.

    “Brother, I am supposed to be sending congratulations to you but we judge God faithful in all.

    “It is sad for the families. They are now switching from a wedding to a funeral. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, naturally.”

    The groom was a young man who grew up locally. He went to the local school. H did have an awful lot of friends around.

    He was due to get married on December 22 and 23. The family was in bits. His community was plunged into deep sadness following his sudden death, with a number of friends and family paying tributes to the young man on social media.

    One tribute reads: “Every girl waits for that day their whole life. Can you imagine how excited you would be and then for it to be all taken away just like that?

    Another said: “Can’t believe it. Rest in peace. God be with you, my friend, nicest boy you could have met. Just 3 days before his wedding. Condolences to his family at this awful sad time.”

    One other tribute reads: “Jesus! And congratulations turn into RIP. So painful. What a wicked world. May the Lord grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss and may the Lord grant his soul eternal rest.

    “I can’t even imagine the pain the bride to be will be going through. Rest in peace.”

    Another also said: “This is unacceptable. This life is not balanced when sad occurrences like this happen.

    “How easy will the wife take it? One dies at the prime of achieving a thing in life.

    “No matter the matter, God is great. God will grant your family and wife to be the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

    Yet another tribute said: “This is devastating, but who are we to question the faithfulness of God? So disheartening. Take heart dear wife to be.”

    On August 2, 2023, the late Abraham had taken to his Facebook wall to pen sweet words for his lovely wife to be ahead of her birthday on August 15, saying: ‘In Andy to my splendor (August 15th is the code), my beautifest, my favouritest, my bestest, Great shift, I treasured and love you greatly.”

    On the 15th of August 2023, which was the birthday of his fiancee, the late Abraham again penned these love lines to celebrate her: “It’s a new day for you my splendor. The Lord shall exalt your horn, you shall be the joy of many generations, light attend to your path.

    “Grow in wisdom, Favour and grace. Happy birthday, I treasure and love you greatly.”

    And in response, she said “Amen, Thank you so much my diadem”.

    On November 29, 2023, the late Abraham again took to his Facebook wall to officially announce the date for both his traditional and church wedding to his fiancee as he wrote: “He made all things beautiful in his time. Please join us as we celebrate the faithfulness of God over our lives.”

    That turned out his last post before he took ill.

    But on November 30, 2023, the bride took to her Facebook wall to also announce her marriage on the 22nd and 23rd December 2023.

    She wrote: “God has been faithful. Pray for us and plan to come, AP2023.”

    Although our correspondent was unable to ascertain the nature of the illness that befell the late Abraham, when the news of his sudden death was broken, his entire community and members of his church in particular were thrown into confusion.

    One of his brothers and friends, who identify himself as Amos, said: “Abraham Basif was actually full of life in preparation for his wedding.

    “If anyone had told me the wedding would not hold or Abraham would go down six fit within that time, I won’t believe it. But God has done it.

    “We are human. We are flesh, so we are not going to see it the way you see it, Lord. We are going to see it the way you see it Lord.

    “We are going to be pained and we are actually pained, but God knows better. May his soul continue to rest with our Lord.”

    Efforts made to speak in details with the bride and her family as well as the groom’s immediate family on the next steps yielded no result.

  • Six ways to honour your mother on your wedding day

    Six ways to honour your mother on your wedding day

    The Wedding day is, undeniably, a big day for most people. Thus, whatever you do and how you go about it, stays with you for a long time. For some people, it is until death or as long as the marriage lasts. And for women, when she gets engaged, it’s usually her mother who gets to hear about it first.

    The fact that women choose to call their mothers first each time anything important happens in their lives, says a lot about the relationship they share with them. Many women love the idea that they could announce to the world how grateful they are for all that their mothers have done for them.

    According to AmerikankiWedding, the day they get married often presents itself as an excellent opportunity. If you would like to make a touching statement on your wedding day about the relationship that you have with your mother, here are ideas on how to do it.

    1. Wear your mother’s wedding dress

    It can be a beautiful gesture to ask your mother for her wedding dress to wear on your wedding day, instead of picking up a new one. Many brides who try this idea get an expert tailor to have a few updates. Most probably your parents got married in 1980s, which means the style of your mom’s wedding dress differs a lot from what we see nowadays. In this case, you may use your mom’s jewellery and accessories.

    You can also adorn the stem of the bouquet with her scarf or the fabric from her gown or use some items that are dear to her, for example, your family heirloom. If your mother’s D-Day dress isn’t right for you at all, you may still consider wearing her veil. By incorporating an article of her clothing into your outfit, you will gain a special bond between you and your mom.

    2. Choose your mother’s outfit yourself

    Usually, once the bride chooses her wedding dress, she shows it to her mother. The mother, then, goes on to buy an outfit of her own to complement the wedding dress. Then, the groom’s mother buys an outfit to go with all the others. It could be a sweet gesture, though, for you to buy dresses both for your mother and your future mother-in-law, yourself.

    3. Your mother could give you away, too

    In the Jewish tradition, both the mother and the father walk the bride down the aisle. In the Christian tradition, though, it’s only the father. Admittedly, walking down the aisle with your father, brother, grandfather or other male relative had been a strong tradition for a long time. There’s no need to follow tradition to a tee. The convention could be bent a bit, though, if it would help honour your mother. You could ask your mother to join you and your father as you walk down the aisle. After all, both of your parents have to say goodbye to their little girl. However, it would be reasonable to know if your dad is ok with that. Sharing this special moment will be a great way to honour your mother at your wedding.

    Also Read: Housewife offers N120,000 bride price to quit five-year-old barren marriage

    4. The mother-daughter dance

    While it’s common for the bride to dance with her father at her wedding, a mother-daughter dance isn’t nearly as usual a sight. This could be a great place to change tradition. Mothers deserve dances, too. The choice of the song is one of the most important aspects of the dance since the song should be meaningful to both of you and it should be entertaining for your guests. Play her favourite song during the ceremony or opt for the composition that accompanied your parents’ wedding ceremony.

    If you choose the song, consider Mama’s Song by Carrie Underwood and I’m Every Woman by Whitney Huston. These are eternal compositions. Ask the officiator to announce the song and say a few words before you start dancing. Suggest that your spouse dance with both your mom and his mom too.

    5. Make a change to the traditional bouquet toss

    This is another great alternative to a traditional bouquet toss. Nowadays, in some weddings, brides choose to replace the traditional wedding bouquet toss with a bouquet dedication. She gives a little speech about her mother and dedicates the bouquet to her. If your mother doesn’t know about your plans, this is going to be a great surprise for her!

    You can say how important this person is for you without mentioning her name and at the end come up to your mom, hug her and give her your wedding bouquet. This gesture will show her (and everybody there) how important her support was over the years. Be sure, tears are guaranteed. You can also duplicate the wedding bouquet for your mom. Look through her wedding photos and give the picture to your florist.

    6. Re-create your parents’ wedding cake

    It can be a beautiful gesture to design your own wedding cake after the one that you see in your parents’ wedding photos. Try to reduplicate every prominent feature and detail of their wedding cake like colours and small decoration flowers. My mom would be just shocked to see the exact copy of her cake on my wedding table!

    You can also incorporate her favourite sweets into your desserts such as chocolate cookies. Be sure, your mom will eagerly share her top secret recipes with you! You can think up a wedding menu after the one that your parents had. It’s not necessarily to pattern everything, but a few dishes taken from your parents’ wedding menu will definitely honour your mom and dad!

  • Gunmen abduct groom, best man in Ondo

    Suspected gunmen have reportedly abducted a groom, Moses Yakubu, his bride, best man and two other friends at Akunnu in Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State few hours to their engagement.

    It was learnt that the couple and three others were returning from Okene in Kogi State, to Akure, the state capital, for their engagement ceremony scheduled for yesterday when their vehicle was seized at gun point at Akunnu.

    The father of the bride, Ahmed Amodu, who confirmed the incident, said the bride and her younger sister were later set free by the suspected kidnappers.

    The hoodlums reportedly held the groom and the other two male and female friends hostage.

    It was learnt that the engagement was scheduled to hold yesterday afternoon at Aule Quarters on Agagu Road in Akure.

    The engagement venue was said to be in pensive mood as guests and the two families called for the assistance of security agents to rescue the bride, the groom and others held in captivity.

    The bride was said to have been in distress since the incident happened.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said policemen had been deployed in the area to comb the forest and rescue the victims.

    Joseph said the command would end incessant kidnapping in Akoko, especially with its Kogi and Edo states’ neighbouring towns and villages.

    According to him, the Police Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju was meeting top officers of the command on strategies to tackle kidnappingsin Akoko area.

    Penultimate Sunday, four Akure-bound passengers from Ikare-Akoko were kidnapped on the Owo-Oba-Ikare-Akunnu Road, while a Pastor, who resisted being abducted by the gunmen, was killed on the spot.

  • Entrepreneurs return to varsity which groomed them

    Entrepreneurs return to varsity which groomed them

    Years after graduation, ex-students of Salem University, Lokoja share acquired values that are helping them navigate the curves of life and careers, reports SUNDAY OGUNTOLA

    Fidelis Ekom was all smiles as he walked to the podium. Many in the audience clapped. Others nodded delightfully. All simply cheered the young entrepreneur that defines many values Salem University (SU), Lokoja represent. It was at the fifth convocation ceremony of the institution last Saturday.

    The cheering audience had reasons to be excited. Just three years after graduation, Ekom has set up three thriving business outfits.  Wear with style perfumes deals with sales and distribution of quality perfumes across the nation; Diplomatic Republic Entertainment-D.R.E is an entertainment company that has the recording artiste on its label; Under 30s C.E.O Naija, a media outfit profiles young entrepreneurs.

    The cheers over, Ekom said everything is down to the quality education he received, especially in entrepreneurship while in SU. The institution has an entrepreneurship programme that seeks to make job creators out of students as against being job seekers. He said: “The institution is not just an educational learning hub but truthfully a transformational, leadership training ground for optimistic, innovative, goal-driven minds,” Ekom submitted.

    His speech was punctuated by more applause. But he wasn’t done yet. “The trainings made me a pace setter and an improved being in the society. It’s not surprising that today I find myself so passionate about my engagements to the extent it has become a lifestyle,” he added.

    It was Precious Oyem’s turn to share how much difference the institution has made in his life. Amid cheers, he held the hall spell-bound. During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days, Oyem was one of those hired by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by election into a vacant House of Assembly seat in Abia state. He thought his assignment was over after the results were declared. But few minutes after, agents and chieftains of political parties approached him for assistance.

    They were willing to offer him anything just to allow them thumb print and change the declared results. Oyem was stupefied. He knew he wouldn’t do it. But how can he tell the old men and women begging him frantically that he cannot help them? It wasn’t that he didn’t need the offered money but he cannot sell his conscience.

    Everything he learnt at Salem University flooded back to his memories. “I recalled how it was always being hammered into our hearing that smartness can take a man to the top but only integrity can keep him there,” Oyem recounted. He had to tell them anyway. Saying no is a no-brainer. It can hurt feelings but save one a lifetime of heartaches.

    “With God’s wisdom I refused the bribe and stood my ground based on my background in Salem University which I have imbibed,” he remembered. Even when the incensed party agents mobilised a mob to attack the unyielding, unprotected corps member, God was there to help him escape unhurt.

    Sandra Nnadozie is a 2014 graduate of Microbiology from the institution. In four years, she said the school transformed her “from a shy, naïve and timid girl to a reserved, god-fearing, relentless, goal-oriented woman.”

    Today, as an operation manager in an international networking company, Nnadozie said she owes everything to the tutelage she received from SU. “Salem University not only equipped me educationally but also spiritually and mentally and I was prepared to face the world and be a change agent anywhere I go.”

    Godwin Awojobi is Senior Software Engineer at Biscom. He said the Total Leadership Training Concept (TLTC) courses offered in the institution equipped him with the right skill sets for his current high-profile, demanding job.

    Awojobi said, “Paired with academics, my degree played integral role in the development and preparation of my quantitative and qualitative skills for career success in information technology. Salem University has helped me grow my skill-set and put me in a position to succeed and also help others to succeed.

  • How to groom youths as future leaders

    How to groom youths as future leaders

    Sahara Group Executive Director Mr Tonye Cole, did not mince words about his firm’s readiness to continue supporting youth innovation when he led the ENACTUS team of the Federal Polytechnic in Kaduna (KADPOLY) to meet Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i last week. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    A company executive is canvassing for support for students to make them self-reliant and employers. According to Mr Tonye Cole, Sahara Group Executive Director, it is through such encouragement that students can realise their potential. Entrepreneurship, he said, unlocks opportunities and economic prosperity worldwide.

    Cole believes that youths must be supported to develop Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s innovative ideas. This, he said, remains the key to achieving irreversible economic growth and solving unemployment.

    Cole spoke when he led members of the Entrepreneurship Action in Us (ENACTUS) of the Federal Polytechnic in Kaduna (KADPOLY) to present the trophy they won at a global entrepreneurship contest to El-Rufai, last week.

    The ENACTUS team in KADPOLY, comprising students from different disciplines, represented the country at the ENACTUS World Challenge in Johannesburg, South Africa last month. The Nigeria team beat several countries to get to the semi-final round, before it lost out to its counterpart from the United Kingdom (UK). More than 3,000 students from 34 countries participated in the contest.

    Sahara Group has been the major sponsor of ENACTUS team to promote youth entrepreneurship through a network of students in free enterprise.

    Receiving the team, El-Rufa’i said the achievement of the students indicated that the nation had a promising future, noting that the feat underscored the need for private sector participation in driving positive change in the country.

    The governor said: “This achievement underscores the need for increased private sector participation in driving positive change across all sectors of the economy. Our youths hold the bright future we all long to see and organisations, such as Sahara Group deserve commendation for providing platforms and opportunities for our youths to realise their aspiration.”

    Cole told that the KADPOLY students got the ticket to represent Nigeria at the competition after they won the national Sahara Light Up Nigeria Challenge – a contest developed by Sahara Group to help creative students develop alternative and sustainable energy models that can boost power supply using locally-sources materials.

    The KADPOLY team, he said, developed a green power generation project labelled Renewable Energy Advancement Project (REAP). The electricity project involved the use of recycled materials for the construction of a Hydro-power system that generated electricity for residents of Sabon Kakau village on the outskirts of Kaduna.

    Cole said: “The village never had electricity for over 50 years of its existence. While it would have cost the villagers a whopping $22,000 to connect to the national electricity grid, the students only spent $600 to provide the environmentally-friendly facility.

    “This is one of the positive changes we are driving. It is the reason why we have continued to invest in youth innovation and empowerment to enhance capacity building and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and other places we conduct business across the globe. We have been doing this through the platform of Sahara Foundation.”

    Through the contest, Cole said students have developed simple power-generation models that reduce production cost and encourage the broad utilisation of the different energy sources to boost small-scale businesses, healthcare centres and schools.

    He added: “I am confident that even after the 2015 ENACTUS world cup event, every participating nation would always remember the Nigeria team for its creativity, resourcefulness and spontaneous intelligence. Sahara Group believes that by supporting youths in various intervention projects, we would be extending and strengthening frontiers for sustainable socio-economic growth and development.”

    Zam Obed, a final year Accounting student and leader of the  team, praised the Sahara Group for the opportunity given to the students to develop their entrepreneurial abilities.

    Cole said that the firm had started a partnership with the United Nations on “Building Bridges” project, which seeks to engage young people for effective participation in activities that will make Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) realisable.

    The platform had already started with a conference with the theme: Beyond 2015: Promoting Gender equality and Good governance, where Sahara Group and other partners joined the conversation on the challenges and opportunities for youths in SDGs agenda.

  • A new beginning in style

    A new beginning in style

    Planning for a wedding can be exciting as well as hectic. Yetunde Oladeinde looks at how the bride can maximise the opportunities available without stressing herself.

    THE bride steps out of the posh car looking regal. The handsome groom comes over smiling happily, looking classy and he is also the cynosure of all eyes. As a pair, they look good together but as you take a look around, you discover that they are a selfish pair. All the other details that should have made the day grand were not in order. Unfortunately, this affects the event and takes away the shine from what should have been a wonderful outing.

    That is why you need to have a list and work nicely around it to have a wonderful day. Of course, you do not need to overstretch yourself in the process. All you need to do is to delegate the assignments and get people to monitor the process for you.

    It is a day when the couple must rebrand themselves. When you have a special event or date, then it is important to make sure it fits. There are so many choices but it is better to pick the design that will be most appropriate for the event and your mood.

    This would definitely help to coordinate your total outlook with other elements of this special day. To stand out, it is better to opt for something that is the exclusive. For a design that speaks class, it is better to make use of matching accessories that would make you carve a niche as well as complement your outlook.

  • Accessories for the groom

    Accessories for the groom

    MOST times, when plans are on for the wedding almost all the attention shifts to the bride .This should not be so because the groom should also be a very important factor and must be taken into consideration . It is essential for the groom to look great and compliment his beautiful bride on the wedding day.

    To do this in a unique way, you must also be very comfortable with what you are putting on. Groom accessories are the best way to finish off the wedding outfit and add some variety to the occasion. Alternatively, you may opt for a more formal wedding and you would want your outfit to include a waistcoat.

    If you will be wearing a morning suit (three-piece suit consisting of tailcoat, waistcoat and trousers), a muted or contrasting waistcoat will add to the formality of your wedding.

    Others prefer their wedding attire to be contemporary, and perhaps less formal. A waistcoat actually helps to add individuality to your outfit, but you must be careful in your combination so that it does not clash with the rest of your suit.

    Cravats are the traditional attire worn with a morning suit; particularly if you are wearing a wing collar shirt can be a delight. The wearing of the cravat helps add grandeur to the groom’s outfit.

    Neckties are essentials and they can be worn for both a formal and informal wedding. It is recommended that the groom wears a plain collared shirt. Most grooms may have never worn a cravat before and therefore choose a tie as a more comfortable, and slightly more relaxed option. When choosing a tie, the design options are endless.

    Although the necktie proves most prominent in today’s society, the bow tie is making a comeback with fun-formal weddings. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip. Some “clip-ons” dispense with the band altogether, instead clipping to the collar. However the traditional alternative, consisting of a single strip of material, may be known as a “self-tie” bow tie to distinguish it.

    Most good quality shirts will have French or double cuffs which are cuffs on a dress shirt that are folded back and then closed by cufflinks. Cufflinks are a particularly good way to add an element of sparkle or colour to an otherwise formal outfit! Indeed, whilst the average man would not expect to wear glitzy jewelry, crystal cufflinks are seen as a perfect way for the gentleman to accessorise and add sparkle to his outfit. Likewise enamel cufflinks are great option for someone looking to add colour to his suit.

    If your wedding shirt does not have the two holes for cufflinks, and instead has buttons, you may wish to opt for button covers. Crystal button covers offer a way of spicing up your buttoned shirts, without the use of cufflinks! , Cufflinks may be one of the first accessories you’ll think of when it comes to your wedding wear.

  • Groom, grandma, two others die in road crash

    A  MAN, who was on his way to his pre- wedding introduction , has died in an accident on the Benin-Auchi road in Edo State.

    He was said to be heading from Iruekpan village to Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area.

    Three other relatives-his grandmother, uncle and aunt- died in the accident, which occurred last week.

    Sources said they were travelling in a Toyota Sienna , which had a head-on with a heavy duty truck conveying sawdust.

    It took some time before the trapped bodies were removed from under the truck.

    The bodies have been deposited at a morgue.

    The Toyota Sienna was damaged beyond repair, as its engine and body flew in various directions when the collission occurred.

    The Head of Operations, Iruekpen Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. John Omokandugba, said the accident occurred as the Sienna was trying to overtake.

    The identity of the victims could not be confirmed.