Love can be unpredictable, and sometimes, it happens faster than expected. A Black American woman, known as Life by Ila on TikTok, recently shared her unique love story about marrying a Nigerian man who had no legal documents just three months after they started dating.
’I met my husband online, We got married three months after dating. We both lived in the same city. He was parking cars for a living so he was a Valet. He did not have a career. I had a career, but he did not. I had my own place but he was living with two different people, he was not settled at the time. We have been married now for 21 years. We have two children.”
The couple first connected online, and their bond grew quickly. Despite living in different worlds, they felt an instant connection. Within a short time, their relationship became serious, leading them to make a life-changing decision.
However, their love story wasn’t without challenges. Many people around the woman were against her relationship because her partner didn’t have legal papers. Friends and family questioned her choice, warning her about potential risks.
But she didn’t let their opinions change her heart. Instead, she focused on the love she had for her partner and the future they wanted to build together.
After only three months of dating, the couple decided to get married. They believed their love was strong enough to overcome any obstacles. Their decision has since sparked mixed reactions online—some admire her courage, while others remain skeptical.
‘’I had a lot of people in my ears telling me ‘Oh my God, he is using you for papers. He is lying, he probably has a family in Nigeria, Nigerians know how to lie, and he probably hasn’t even been to school’. All types of stuff but for me, it was new because I had never dated a foreigner before so I had no idea about ‘’papers” and what that meant.
‘Papers?’’ what are you talking about?
So I had to quickly educate myself on what that meant to be with somebody that did not have papers. In those three months time spent, we really got to spend time together, date and get to know each other. So I made an effort to block out the noise and really get to know him outside of his documentation situation. I knew I wanted to marry, I knew the type of man I wanted to get married to, and I knew what I wanted to feel when I started dating someone.
Sitting down with him, I quickly realized he was a very nice person, he was kindhearted, educated, came from a very good family, just an overall good person and so I liked him as a person outside his documentation situation. Even though I was telling people all of these positive things, there was still a lot of negativity around being with a foreigner that didn’t have papers, stressing a Nigerian with no papers. There was a stigma around that and I had no clue at the time but after being in the situation, we decided to go forward and get married. I had good about it, There was no hesitation. I didn’t t have any second thoughts. He was a really good person and I just had a great feeling about him. I thank God it ended up working out. We have been married, we have a great life together and it worked out well.
Ladies, what I would say is if you are dating a Nigerian or a foreigner without papers, do your due diligence. If it does not feel right, then it’s probably not right”.
Despite the criticism, the couple remains happy, showing that true love isn’t about external factors but about trust, connection, and commitment.
Their story is a reminder that love doesn’t always follow a timeline. Sometimes, when you meet the right person, everything falls into place, no matter the circumstances. While their journey may not be conventional, it proves that love can conquer all.
Would you take a leap of faith for love like this? Share your thoughts in the comments!
