Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and love is in the air—though for some, that air spans borders and time zones. Long-distance relationships are not easy, but they often bring out the most creative sides of couples determined to make it work. In the spirit of love and connection, I spoke to three couples who shared the weirdest things they’ve done to stay close despite the miles. Their names have been changed for privacy, but their stories are as real as it gets. Grab a cup of tea (or a glass of something stronger), and let’s get into their world.
Efe and Emmanuel: London, UK & Lagos, Nigeria
“We turned our kitchens into a love language.”
Efe: "When Emmanuel and I started dating, we never thought we'd be long-distance. He's in Lagos now, and I'm in London. It was tough, but we found this weird ritual. We call it ‘The Owambe Cook-Off’. We pick a dish—sometimes it’s jollof rice, other times it’s egusi soup or something as simple as plantain and eggs. I go hunting for ingredients in Peckham, where there’s this Nigerian store that stocks everything, and what that they don’t have I send the list to him, and he uses a shipping company to send it to me ahead. Emmanuel, of course, has it easier in Lagos. Then we set up our laptops in our kitchens and start cooking at the same time."
Emmanuel: "Yeah, it started as a joke. She missed Nigerian food, so I suggested we cook together. The first time, I burnt my plantain because I was watching her dance while chopping onions. She’s a terrible dancer, by the way."
Efe: "I am not! Anyway, we describe every bite to each other. It feels like we're sharing the meal, even though we’re apart. It’s about staying part of each other's daily life."
Jubril and Ronke: Kano & Ekiti, Nigeria
“Our love story is a story we tell each other.”
Jubril’s voice was calm and measured, the kind of voice that makes you feel like everything’s going to be okay. He was calling from Kano.
Jubril: "Ronke and I met during NYSC but ended up in different parts of Nigeria. We started this thing with voice notes where we create ridiculous, ongoing stories."
Ronke: "I sent him this story about 'Captain Jubril', a superhero saving Kano from traffic. Then he continued it, adding me as a character. Now, Ronke laughed. “I think we’ve created a whole universe at this point. It’s our little escape. When I’m having a tough day, I know I’ll get a voice note from Jubril that’ll make me smile. And when he’s stuck in Kano traffic, he knows I’ll send him something to make the time go faster.”
Jubril: "It's not just fun; it's how we stay connected, reminding each other we're part of the same story even if we’re not in the same place.”
Ola and Ife: Nairobi, Kenya & Lagos, Nigeria
“Our love is a canvas, and we paint it together”
Ola’s voice was soft but animated as he spoke from Nairobi.
Ola: "Ife sent me this drawing of a girl under a tree, When I got that drawing, it broke me in the best way. I didn’t want to just keep it; I wanted to add to it. So I took a transparent sheet, drew a boy on a swing, high up in the clouds, and sent it back to her using Fez Delivery.
Ife: "Each drawing adds to our story. Once, his abstract art met my realistic cat drawing, and it was hilariously mismatched. But it's about us expressing love without words."
Ola: "There's something magical about holding what she created; it makes the distance feel less daunting. I'm super grateful for the role Fez delivery plays in this—affordable shipping that you can easily track always leaves me in awe.
Listening to these couples, I couldn’t help but marvel at the lengths we’ll go to for love. Whether it’s cooking across continents, weaving fantastical stories, or creating art that transcends borders, love finds a way. But what makes these gestures even more special is the ability to send tangible pieces of that love—whether it’s a drawing, a care package, or a handwritten note.
That’s where Fez Delivery comes in. For Efe and Emmanuel, Fez makes it possible to send spices and ingredients from Nigeria to the UK, ensuring their virtual cook-offs feel a little more real and for Ola and Ife, Fez ensures their art pieces travel safely from Lagos to Nairobi and back, preserving their shared canvas.
This February, Fez Delivery is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special promotion: enjoy a 5% discount on all local and international deliveries throughout the month. Whether your gift is heading to Kano, Ekiti, London, or Nairobi, just apply the promo code FEZ14 at checkout.
With Fez’s tracking feature, you can keep an eye on your package's journey, just like how these couples keep their love strong across distances. So, follow the example of Efe, Emmanuel, Jubril, Ronke, Ola, and Ife—get creative, stay connected, and let Fez Delivery send your love anywhere it needs to go.