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Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, so it’s hard to understand why you’re just looking for gifts for the people you claim you love. But we don’t judge, so we made this list of affordable, ‘hurry-hurry’ gifts the banana in your smoothie would love.
A Fan
Image source: afriledge
This will confirm you’re their biggest fan, and they’ll also know you care for them and don’t want this devilish heat to set them ablaze. I mean, let’s be honest, the only thing that should burn is your love for them.
Foodstuff
Image source: fecofoods
The cost of things goes up every day. If you love the apple of your eye, you’ll walk into the nearby market and get two bunches of plantain and a crate of eggs for them. If they use it well, you’ll have fed them for at least a week.
A photo album
Image source: redtreealbums
If you can’t feed them for whatever reason, let them feast their eyes on your beauty and the memories you’ve shared together for free. Let’s be honest, w you can make that photo album on your phone with Canva.
Flowers
Image Source: dengarden
Unless you plan on robbing the florist, there is a low chance of you getting flowers for your beau with ₦10k, so we suggest you take a stroll around your city to pick flowers or buy plastic flowers. Remember to spray your perfume on them and hope they don’t shout “it’s even plastic” when they see it.
A shirt
Image source: freepik
Not just any shirt, though. Buy them one with your face on it. Make it big and bold so everyone can know who’s captured their heart.
PS: Maybe doing it with a crop top will be more ideal (Have you felt this heat?).
A personalised food tray
Image source: pinterest
If the love of your life loves seafood, maybe sit this one out. Unless, of course, they won’t mind eja kika, panla with crayfish sprinkled on top, and a bottle of Four Cousins.
A power bank
Image source: jaybest
Nothing says “I love you” better than a device that’ll help your partner’s phone stay on and keep them connected to you 24/7. There’s also no light, so we promise you, they’ll really appreciate this one.
Girlies, if your valentine is your long-distance bestie, then we know what you should get them too.
Psst! Have you seen our Valentine Special yet? We brought back three couples – one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends – to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch the first episode below:
Being the single friend sucks. If you’re not constantly feeling like the third wheel, you’re having to listen to your friend rant about their boo, knowing fully well they’ll never take any advice you give.
Valentine is coming, and if you’re the relationship friend, know that it’ll be the most third-wheel type of day ever for your single friend. But you can help make it better.
Get them a gift
Send them money, finally take their advice or buy them something they need; the gift options are endless. The point is to remind them of your love and make sure they don’t feel left out.
Now’s not the time to match-make them
I know you want the best for them, but talking stages are stressful as hell. So give them a break on Valentine’s Day. They can continue answering what their favourite colour is in March.
Break up with your partner
Hear me out. Nothing screams sacrifice like sacrificing your own relationship so your bestie doesn’t feel alone. At least, then you can spend the day together, discussing how the other gender is scum.
Or just abandon them for a day
You can also just ghost your partner to spend time with your friend on Valentine’s Day. You know how people say, “Every day should be Valentine with the right person”? Well, if they’re Mr/Miss Right, they wouldn’t mind picking any of the other days in the calendar to do Valentine things.
Get them to set their priorities straight
Not every time love matter. Are they keeping to their New Year resolutions? Or have they forgotten them? Those are more important than plastic flowers and Nigerian-made teddy bears, if you ask me. It doesn’t matter that you yourself are doing love things with your own partner. The focus is your friend.
Join them to make fun of other people’s gifts
There’s always more than enough cringe-worthy content on Valentine’s Day and who better to join in judging people than your bestie? They might judge your gifts too, but TBH, someone has to do it. With you being blind from love and all.
Allow them enter your relationship
Don’t you want your bestie to enjoy happiness too? Your partner might still cheat one day. But this way, you get to see and approve who they cheat with.
Psst! Have you seen our Valentine Special yet? We brought back three couples – one now with kids, one now married and the last, still best friends – to share how their relationships have evolved in the last five years. Watch the first episode below:
All relationships matter, even the ones that have you wondering if you’re together-together — because you people do relationship things, but they’ve not made it exclusive yet.
They might serve you numerous dishes of confusion, but they still deserve to get a little something for Valentine’s Day.
The hint
They’ve been taking up space in your heart and head for this long. It’s time they made things official, and if they need a little push or the biggest one ever, what are you if not kind and generous?
A new phone
They might want to post you and show you off, but their current cellular device and service provider won’t let them. Take the bull by the horn, and get them a new UK-used phone (you’re not Father Christmas, please) and a new sim card. If they don’t scream their love for you from the top of Oriental Hotel after this, then your case is more serious than we thought.
A watch
A clock could work, too. Just get them any time-telling device so they can see for themselves that they’re wasting your time.
An apple
We didn’t say an Apple device o. Go to the market, and buy them one apple. You’re the apple of their eye and they need to understand it.
Memories
Make a compilation video of all the times you made them laugh and smile, so they’ll see how happy they truly are with you and do the needful quickly.
A photo album
And put in pictures of yourself from when you were born till now. They need to know you’re a spec and if they don’t make their love known, someone else will sweep you off your feet and from their arms.
Dark chocolate
They’ll think you’re being romantic, but in reality, you’ve given them food to boost their brain so they can think wisely and see how you’re the only one for them.
Contrary to what the internet will have you believe, you don’t have to break the bank before you can afford intentional and thoughtful gifts. We’ll help you figure out some ideas for the categories of people in your life.
Nine-to-fiver
If the recipient is a guy with a 9-5 corporate shirts, ties, shoes, belts, cufflinks, socks will do. For babes, work clothes, a pair of cute slippers, notepads or journals are intentional gifts. Every time they wear and use these things, they’ll think of you.
What a belt!
Content creator
If they create content, buy them studio props and decors and book an aesthetic studio for them to shoot their content.
You can also consider giving them a gimbal, phone vlog video kit, ring light, lapel mic, tripod, drone and 99 other equipment options.
Additionally, paying the subscriptions for the work apps they use like CapCut, PremierePro, Da Vinci Resolve e.t.c. is such an intentional move.
Entrepreneur
If you’re looking to excite an entrepreneur with gifts, acquire a business registration form from CAC to surprise them (if they don’t have it). You can also make their business logo, fliers, business card or pay for their business merch. Branding and sponsored ads are great gifts that’ll boost their business too. They’ll love it.
Reader
A Kindle book is to a reader what a laptop is to a tech-bro. It’s a wireless, electronic reading device with access to more than three million books. As the saying goes, a reader is a leader. Invest in making your loved one a better leader today.
Gym rat
Get them gym wear, running shoes, dumbbells, etc. For more privacy, set up a home gym. Now they can work out any time they like.
Additionally, leave a 12-month down payment at their favourite fruits store or seller to cover their fruit supplies. Do this and you and their smoothie will be their favourites.
Valentine’s Day is a few weeks away, and if you’re conflicted about the gifts that’ll have the recipient grinning from mouth to ear, we’ve got you covered. You won’t find a more comprehensive list.
Valentine’s Day Gifts for Men
Men can act like they don’t care, but trust us when we say these gift ideas for men will answer their many “God when?” questions.
An underwear set
Forget all the bashing on social media, men appreciate underwear. Just go the extra mile by getting the best quality and designer brands.
Hard currency
With a dollar selling for ₦1500 at the parallel market? See, that man will love you forever. You just made offsetting some of his bills easier.
Cook-a-storm
There’s something they say about men and the way to their hearts. If Hilda Baci cooked for 100 hours, double the number up and fill his refrigerator with all sorts of local and intercontinental delicacies.
A spa appointment
Nigerian men are seeing shege seven days of the week in Tinubu’s era. A fully paid spa session will show him how thoughtful you are.
A customized jersey
If he loves football, the only other way to his heart apart from food might be his club’s original jersey that comes with his name on it.
Valentine’s Day Gifts for Women
If you don’t know, Nigerian women are tired of plastic flowers and all the other low-effort gifts that show zero intentionality. Consider these Valentine’s gift ideas for women in Tinubu’s Nigeria and the flames of their love will burn hotter than an agbado grill.
A pasta date
Nigerian women love their pasta. Whether it’s creamy, bolognese, stir fry or village, just make sure pasta is on the restaurant menu as you plan to make that dinner reservation for two.
Hair
Nigerian women are tired of the long hours required at hair salons, hence the love for wigs. So, add another quality wig to her collection; she can never have too much of it.
A romantic getaway
Your woman deserves to see the world and who best to make it happen? It doesn’t even have to be Santorini or The Maldives, she’ll take a trip to Benin Republic or Ghana, as long as it’s well thought out.
Jewellery
When you think of jewellery as an investment option for your woman, you’ll be open to spending millions on their collection. And she’ll appreciate you for giving her a safety net. For starters, consider VanCleef.
A year’s worth supply of sanitary pad
Sanitary pads have joined the inflation race. For an essential need that needs to be replaced every month, you’ll be taking a huge burden off her finances.
Valentine’s Day Gift for Friends
We’ve already established that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples. Your platonic relationships should also enjoy some attention and there’s no better way than surprising your friends with a Valentine’s Day gift. If you’re conflicted on what to buy, these suggestions should get you started.
A photoshoot session
We need to normalize friends hitting the studio for professionally shot portraits. Not every time couples and birthday celebrants. Friends have memories that must be preserved too.
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A personalised hamper
Hampers don’t have to go out during the Christmas season alone. Curate a personalised hamper and include items that show you know your friends better than the lines on your palm.
Or a personalised photobook
After your family members and lover, you most likely have the most shared memories with your friends. Show them just how much these moments mean to you by documenting them in a photobook. They might cringe at first, but don’t worry, it’ll be one of those things they’ll cling to when japa comes between y’all.
A weekend getaway
A day or two to do batshit crazy things with friends? Yes, please. Tell them to pack their bags and join you in a short-let apartment you’ve paid for. It doesn’t necessarily have to happen on Valentine’s Day, especially if it falls on a work day. You could push for the weekend right after.
Valentine’s Day Gift for Family
So you want to make it an extra special celebration of love by including your family members? So sweet. Consider these Valentine’s Day gift ideas.
A family portrait
If y’all don’t already have one, now’s the perfect time to drag everybody to a studio. By everybody we mean the grandparents, the parents, siblings, grandkids and great-grandkids. Send a personal framed copy to all the adults on Valentine’s Day.
Family house makeover
If you and your siblings have moved out of your parent’s home, that place becomes your family house. Surprise your parents and siblings by giving the house a proper makeover that’ll make it a cute spot for when y’all are around.
Or a land to build one
Especially if your parents stay in a rented apartment. Join hands with your siblings and make it the family project that tightens the bond between y’all.
Personalised gift box
Imagine the joy you’ll spark in each of your family members when a dispatch rider calls them on Valentine’s Day to deliver the special box from you. You can go the extra mile by including a handwritten note in each box.
Vendors have started to fill social media with their curated gift boxes, and that’s all the sign you need to know Valentine’s Day is around the corner.
We can debate why the death of one prehistoric saint means we have to finish all our money later. Today, let’s discuss how to draw the line between being a stingy lover and spending too much money as a 9-5er in Tinubu’s Nigeria. We got seven 9-5ers to weigh in.
Look at your salary
When you’re in love, you naturally want to go all out to put a smile on the face of your partner. But as a salary earner, that salary is supposed to take you till the next salary day. So, before you order that gift box, calculate how much you can comfortably spend without resorting to begging for food or trekking to work for the rest of the month. Then add a little extra for emergency expenses.
— Enoch, 29
Make a budget and compare it to your usual expenses
You should have a monthly budget, or something to track your expenses so you know how much you typically spend in a month.
Make a budget for that Valentine’s gift and then compare it to what you’d usually spend in a month. If it’s more than 70% higher than your normal monthly budget, consider revising your plan for something less expensive, preferably within 30% – 50%, depending on how generous you plan to be.
— Mariam, 32
Leave some wiggle room for inflation
A good perfume that cost ₦10k in 2023 might cost ₦15k now. It’s not you. It’s Nigeria. So even if you have a budget, keep in mind that you might end up spending a little extra. But try not to completely veer off your budget.
— Kevwe, 22
Plan early
Things become more expensive by the minute these days, and gifts tend to become even costlier around Valentine’s Day. It’s salary week, so it won’t hurt to start planning and making your purchases now.
— Omoh, 25
Are there cheaper alternatives?
Let’s assume you want to buy your babe a fake Van Cleef bracelet for ₦10k. Why not go to Yaba and buy the same bracelet for ₦5k? Both of them are fake, anyway.
Considering cheaper alternatives is like killing two birds with one stone. You create a memory and spend less while at it. Plus, cheap doesn’t mean tacky, so package it well.
— Charles, 36
Is the person even worth it?
Ask yourself: Am I and this person dating exclusively? Do they see me as a talking stage? Will the person even match my energy?
For me, how much I spend depends on how important the person is to me.
— Bayo, 26
Get creative with your gifting
Roses are great, but is it roses I will eat? Instead of spending ₦50k on that, consider creative practical gifts like food or fuel. The person might appreciate it more, and you’ll spend less. You can also gift joint experiences like an outdoor picnic, rather than dinner at an overpriced restaurant.
It’s finally salary week! If you count a few more days, you’ll land right on February 14, AKA Valentine’s Day. While a fancy dinner, romantic getaway and customised gift box may seem like well thought-out ideas, we can’t say they reflect the pressing needs of the average Nigerian at the moment.
Everywhere choke, and people are going through it. But these items might make life a little easier for the people you hold dear.
Rice
Rice is the most consumed staple in Nigerian households, so you know there’s a problem when a paint bucket sells for as high as ₦6000. The LOYL may not ask for it, but they’ll appreciate a bag of rice better than that customised mug you’re discussing with a printer right now.
Fuel
Everyone with a car or generator has been going through it since Tinubu yanked off fuel subsidy. Your loved ones could use that 25 litres of fuel or you can just offer to fill up their tank.
Medical supplies
Drug prices have joined the inflation race, and prices have shot up since the exit of pharmaceutical giants like GlaxoSmithKline. If you’ve got loved ones on life-long medications, chances are they can use some help offsetting their bills right now.
Dollars
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, you can present the dollar bills as a money cake or rolled up in a gift box. Either way, you’ll be making the person smile to the bank, and every Nigerian can use that right now.
A grocery gift card
Food items are also in the inflation race. Everything has doubled in price, and there’s no guarantee you’ll meet the same price at your next grocery run. So, do you see why the LOYL will appreciate a gift card to stock up on supplies?
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A CV revamp for international gigs
If your partner isn’t complaining about being underpaid by a Nigerian employer, you probably know a friend or relative who is. Now how can you come through for them with thoughtful Valentine’s Day gifts? Pay for a CV revamp that’ll land them dollar-paying international gigs.
Rechargeable fans
A heatwave is depriving people of quality sleep right now. Even if your loved ones aren’t saying it to you, they’re tired of using dusting powder. Unfortunately, it’s not the best time to purchase electronic appliances in Nigeria thanks to inflation. Come through for your people with that rechargeable fan.
Being broke is tough, especially when you’re in a relationship. Wanting to give your partner the world but only being able to afford Sangotedo. We see you and have your best interests at heart, so we’ve curated a special list of low-budget gift ideas for that special someone.
Peace of mind
No stress, no long talk, just sweet, tender loving. But just for the day because you have to remember that in everything, wickedness is key.
Handmade coupons for hugs and kisses
A handmade coupon? Talk about love and intentionality. If they don’t shriek and act excited, it means the love isn’t strong because what’s better than hugs and kisses from you?
Cut and join albums
It could be physical or digital. As long as they contain images of you, they’ll love it. You could also sprinkle a picture or two of them because you’re nice.
A handwritten note
“Roses are red. Violets are blue. Your eyes shine bright when my lips do muah”. Light work — you don’t have to do much.
Handmade gift box
Go around their space, pick up little keepsakes and chuck them in a box. Maybe it’s the empty wrapper of the plantain chips you ate after your first date, or the brush they use for their shoe. Anything works.
Give yourself a spa day
Think of it this way. If you look good, you feel good, and that should be enough for them.
Make a playlist
Music that inspires them (to break a bottle on somebody’s head) or slow love songs that make their heart sing with joy. Put them all in a playlist for your boo.
The reason why you don’t have a Valentine is because you spend all your time at work, and your social life is in the mud. It doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the festivities, though. Ever thought about making your boss your Valentine? These eight gift ideas are totally appropriate — or not.
Ask them to hold on to your salary
But specify that it’s just your February salary o. You don’t want them thinking you want to start working for the “passion”.
Your life
What says employee loyalty like actually giving your life for your boss? You can even add your blood as bonus, since they’re always asking for it.
Actually do your work
A whole day when you actually do your work without getting lost in TikToks or Twitter? That’s a very valuable gift if you ask me.
A mug
Personalise it so they know how you really feel about them. They’d love it, trust me.
Before you go, “How is this a gift?” hear me out. You already plan to quit via email, so why not do it with a cake on Valentine’s Day? That way, they won’t cry on an empty stomach.
Praise them on LinkedIn
Because saying sweet things about your company or boss on LinkedIn is the corporate version of love letters.
Propose to them
Chances are you’ve already fallen in love with them. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to take it a notch higher. Ask them to marry you. It’s either they say yes or they fire you. At least, you have a 50% chance of success.
We’re getting closer to Valentine’s Day and as usual, we’re here with the perfect gift ideas for your partners. Today, the focus is on Igbo men. So if you’re in a relationship or crushing on one Igbo man down the road, this article is for you. You’re welcome.
1. Wickedness
Nice girls never win the war sis. Men deserve wickedness everyday and Igbo men deserve even more because they’re always so extra. But Igbo men kuku love problem. Once you show them small wickedness like this, they’ll pack all their money and give to you.
2. Handcuffs and whips
Every Igbo man wants a powerful woman beside him. After all, who’s going to take charge of all the money he’s gathering? Show him you’re a dominant queen that can command his kingdom. Throw in a little “Daaaddy” in bed while and you’ll get the keys to his kingdom.
3. Proper singlets
Men claim that they’re always receiving singlets, but Igbo men have constantly proven that we’re not doing enough. We will keep gifting singlets until they throw away this rubbish.
4. Abacha and Okpa
They say a way to a man’s heart is food. For an Igbo man — especially if he’s from Enugu — it’s abacha and okpa that will do the trick.
5. Palmwine
Get him drunk enough to rob him of his millions. If he’s too broke, still get him drunk enough for a good night. From him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Yes, it’s written in the Bible.
6. Kolanut
While an Igbo man secretly wants to be dominated in the bedroom, he also wants his ego to be massaged. Kolanut is a symbol of respect in the Igbo land. Serve him in a calabash and kneel down in front of him on Valentine’s day. Show him you’re a queen that can whip him into submission while submitting to him as well.
7. Container
Igbo men are always claiming to have containers that are about to land, so why not get him a shipping container? Show him you’re as committed to his growth while you balance it with wickedness.
Put these seven items in a gift box and take it to him tonight. Come and beat me if you’re not in Dubai by the 14th sis.
Valentine’s Day 2021 might have ended, but what will remain forever hilarious are these tweets from single people, zealous people, and people who are genuinely just here for the violence.
Valentine approaches with the speed of a bullet train and depending on your relationship status and your partner’s proclivity for giving gifts, you’re either looking forward to it or dreading it like Open Day in secondary school.
As usual, Nigerian women have come out with their usual tricks.
NerdEfiko suggested I ask men to tell about the worst Valentine’s Day gifts they’ve ever gotten. I expected the usual salvo of terrible gifts Nigerian women are known for, but the majority of replies were even more surprising. Over 80% of respondents say they’ve never received a Valentine’s Day gift before. Ever.
But I did get some “lucky” guys who had at least been gifted something for Valentine’s. Some of the answers were appalling.
Wolf, 29
That Valentine, I had gotten her a huge cake, a bag, a watch, chocolate and vintage red wine. In return, I got perfume that was so pungent, it smelled like eggs and methylated spirit. You could tell how cheap it was just by looking at it. And yes, she was working.
Tochukwu, 29
I bought her a phone for Valentine’s. I guess she was feeling bad that she didn’t get me anything. So she gave me a Bounty chocolate bar. Which happens to be the chocolate I really hate. I wasn’t even expecting anything in return but that was just way off. I had told her before that I hated it but probably forgot. She definitely didn’t forget how much I hated it after that incident.
Dami, 28
She got me shoe polish, singlet and boxers.
Matic
All I got was a shaved vagina.
Matic to his babe on February 13, 14 and 15.
As a reminder to women to try and do better, here are some more tweets of men expressing shock when they discovered men too receive Valentine gifts.
Valentine’s Day might be over, but we can’t get over how people in relationships graced our screens with cute pictures and gifts. In case you missed it, here’s a compilation of the cutest Valentine’s Day gifts we saw this year.
Forget what they say about love being a scam. It’s actually sweet.
Because why are people turning to Shakespeare and writing beautiful messages to each other if not out of love. And it’s not just the words. The gifts themselves are…giving!
It all started with Adesua shouting Banke out very early in the morning
What Banky W did exactly, we’ve not found out till today. But Adesua set the tone for the day.
BANKY W @BankyW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 YOU ARE UNMATCHED. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
My Valentine’s Day planning paid off! She was shocked and loved it🙏 I got Beyoncé and Janet Jackson tickets, made a website/flyer for our summer concert tour. Then had a metal card with the website QR code made and put it in a YSL purse that matched the website design 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TwDWP9I6XE
— John Breth (JB) | CyberInsight® on YouTube (@JBizzle703) February 14, 2023
Someone said the winner of Valentine olympics has come for her crown
The owner of Valentine’s Day gave everybody else time to make their case so she can step in with the perfect closer.
happy valentine’s day to the one who constantly reminds me of my worth and to never settle for less. thank you for giving me a weekend out of a movie! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/IfuTVqeHZ3
And let’s not forget the biggest cheerleader of all
Malta Guinness curated a unique experience for their customers by offering them a chance to showcase their love expression skills via letter writing. Lovers of the drink made handwritten letters using buzz words from the past like XOXO, ditto, doxology and golden pen, in a bid to share goodness with their loved ones.
