I don’t know who concluded that all women do is backbite and gossip about each other, but genuine female friendships can be the sweetest relationships ever. I asked seven Nigerian women to share the most thoughtful gift they’ve received from a female friend, and their responses were so sweet.
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Amara, 27
I launched my online business in 2023, and my best friend made sure she was the first person to patronise me. She bought something worth ₦50k and paid ₦100k for it. I cried so much. She was planning for her mother’s burial at the time and shouldn’t have been in a position to even offer emotional support, talk more of financial. But that’s just who she is. I’m so grateful for her.
Tobi, 26
I’d only known my closest friend for six months when I got married in 2022. But this babe went all out for me. She wasn’t the chief bridesmaid (my sister was), but she organised a surprise bridal shower, came to stay with me three days prior so I wouldn’t stress, got me a blender as a wedding gift and even distributed souvenirs at the wedding reception. We’ve been friends for two years now, and she’s still the same caring human being. We’ve even passed friendship. We’re sisters now.
Jola*, 30
I was in an emotionally abusive relationship for two years, and my childhood friend never hid her disapproval. But she always welcomed me with open arms when I’d come crying about yet another thing my ex had said or done to me. Sometimes, he’d block me everywhere for a couple of days then come back to beg me.
When the last incident left me crying for three days, my friend paid for a therapist appointment and took me there without telling me where we were going. I got back with my ex a few days later, but I saw the therapist for about two months, and the appointments eventually gave me the morale to end the relationship for good. I have my friend to thank for that.
Debbie, 24
I was travelling from Abuja to Lagos in 2022, but our bus kept having issues on the road. It stopped again around Ogun state at 1 a.m., and the driver was suggesting we’d have to sleep there so he could call a mechanic in the morning. I’d been keeping my friend (who lived in Ogun) updated about my movement, and when she heard that, she convinced her dad to come pick me up. When I got to her house, she had a meal waiting for me. It wasn’t exactly a material gift, but she probably saved my life that night. What gift tops that?
Detola*, 25
My two closest friends and I have a tradition of surprising each other for our birthdays. When one person is celebrating, the other two gather money and plan the surprise.
I was really broke in 2023 and couldn’t contribute to one of the birthdays. My other friend took it up without issues. She got a bracelet and had it engraved to say it came from both of us. Our other friend never even knew what happened.
RELATED: 10 Ways to Make Sure You Never Receive a Bad Birthday Gift
Joy, 20
When I broke my juicer, I nearly lost my mind because juicing was the one thing I constantly did for my late dad when he was ill. I told my friend how my family thought I was overreacting over such a small thing, and she didn’t say much. Only for her to show up at my house the next week with a new juicer. I cried.
Chisom, 35
Pregnancy and childbirth did a number on me. I had my baby in 2017 and was so depressed after. To make it worse, I started losing my hair. It felt like the whole world was against me. I felt ugly, bloated and tired, and I told my best friend about it. The next time she came to see me, she brought a pair of scissors and a brand-new wig. She hyped me up to cut off my whole hair and start afresh. In her words, I had nothing to lose. I could own my bald head or wear a wig and look good either way because I had the face to pull it off. I’m not sure why, but it greatly improved my confidence. I felt seen.
*Some names have been changed for anonymity.
NEXT, READ: 7 Nigerian Women Share The Worst Thing A Friend Has Done To Them
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