Nigerians yesterday took to recreation centres and other venues to mark St. Valentine Day.
Valentine’s Day originated as a Western Christian feast day to honour one or two early saints named Valentinus. The Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.
Yesterday, despite the economic meltdown, and being a working day, Nigerians marked the day while hoping for better years ahead.
Celebrants increased their spending on gifts, drinks, transportation, food, hotel lodging, nightclubs and others. Most businesses also make huge sales on the day.
Almost everyone in places visited by The Guardian were in high spirits and purchase of gifts items were also recorded.
Meanwhile, the celebration of this years’ valentine day in some part of the South east was marred by the sit-at-home order as fun spot, eateries and clubs in Anambra State were deserted.
Some of the business owners said the sit-at-home impacted negatively on businesses in the region and the government must do something about it.
Speaking on how the day should be celebrated, Spiritual Adviser, Knights and Ladies of Saint John International, Isolo, Lagos, Reverend Father, Gilbert Osilama advised couples to develop love for one another, commit to it, be courteous and grateful.
“I don’t expect perfection, couples must recognise mistakes and apologise sincerely.
The mood all over is that everyone is in high spirits, buying of gifts because shops are filled with those buying and wearing red attire for touch of red,” he said.
A student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Ayomide Olaiya told The Guardian: “To me every February 14 is a day where we appreciate our loved ones and show them how much we love them. It’s a day that emphasises more on the importance of loving one another.”
For Adepoju Oluwaseyi the day is the one to remember and cherish forever. “February 14, 2018 was the day my husband asked me to marry him. Apart from that, it’s a day where we show people that mean the world to us how much we love and adore them.
General Manager, Ezex, Philip Agoha, said: “Today is the celebration of St. Valentine, who died for the sake of love, he sacrificed for love. It is an opportunity to remind our loved ones and ourselves that there is no sacrifice too much for the sake of love. But it is sad that many are celebrating is lust. “For me, it is a time to show love to my wife, give her gifts to show that love is sweet, love is enduring and love is enjoying.
“I will be taking my wife out for dinner and thank her for loving me unconditionally, reassure her of my love for her and thank her for being my wife and mother of my children.”
A journalist, Remmy Nweke said: “What I understand is that it is a day we share love, show love and exhibit love in all that we do to lift up someone’s spirit we must endeavor to show and share love not necessarily sex, for a day like this, I plan to surprise my wife with gifts.
Also a businesswoman, Uche Ikejiofor, said: “As a Christian, I believe it is a day to show love to family, friends and above all, to the less privileged. For my husband and I, everyday is love but this day is set aside as a special day as I have wrapped a gift for him already and I am sure mine is waiting for me.”
