One thing Nollywood has given us is amazing onscreen couples. Couples who yearn, couples who make us shout “God, when?” From Mo and Tobe’s pining love to Tintin and Bambam’s evergreen romance, here are our favourite on-screen couples.
Mo and Tobe
Seyi Babatope brings us this romance for the ages with the classic friends to lovers trope in ‘When Love Happens.’ Mo (Weruche Opia) and Tobe (Gideon Okeke) have been friends for years. They know literally everything about each other but Tobe’s feelings for Mo are kept in the dark.
While Mo feels nobody sees her, Tobe does. He gives her that speech that makes our hearts melt: “Someone who truly gets you, someone who genuinely cares about you, who sees past your little flaws, someone who wants the best for you and treats you as though you are the only woman in the whole world, someone who will give his heart and his body and his soul and love you with everything he has ever had.” Yes, we might have learnt that declaration by heart. They make our bodies tingle and are definitely a “God, when” onscreen couple.
Ope and Deji
Ope and Deji’s love story in ‘The Royal Hibiscus Hotel’ is the kind that sneaks up on you. From their first meeting, there’s a quiet magic in the way they orbit each other, Ope with her fiery passion for food and Deji with his quiet intensity. Their chemistry isn’t loud or dramatic; it’s in the stolen glances, the teasing smiles, and the way Deji looks at Ope like she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him. But love sometimes can be complicated; it can come with opposition and contrasting desires but true love withers the storm and that’s what Ope and Deji embod
We still remember where we were when Zainab Balogun strut in with that red dress and Kenneth Okolie lost his breath. Talk about the perfect male gaze!
Tintin and Bambam
When we are sixty, we can only hope we are as in love and happy as ‘The Wedding Party’s’ Tintin (Sola Sabowale) and Bambam (Alibaba Akpobome). They represent an ageing love, one that is ageing gracefully. From the first time we see them, they sing each other’s praises. She calls him her crown while he calls her the queen of the universe.
They have the kind of love that makes you wonder what the other will do if one disappears. Forever joint at the hip. They may not be the onscreen couple that gives us heartfelt love declarations, but their chaotic, ride-or-die energy makes them one of Nollywood’s most entertaining on-screen pairs.
Isoken and Kevin
Jade Osiberu’s ‘Isoken’ is everybody’s favourite romcom and rightfully so. Past 30, Isoken, played by Dakore Akande, is berated and shoved at the faces of every single man in Nigeria. She unexpectedly falls in love with Kevin (Marc Rhys), a Caucasian man challenging cultural norms.
Their love is marked by comfort. If you pay attention, Osiberu hid Easter eggs in the romantic comedy. Whenever Isoken is with Osaze (Joseph Benjamin), the man her family thinks is right for her, her hair is covered in wigs but with Kevin, her natural hair comes out to play. It’s a little symbolism that emphasises the comfort they share in each other’s arms. And what is love, if not comfort?
Aminu and Tumini
Aminu and Tumini’s love story in ‘The Men’s Club’ is the definition of intoxicating—passionate, messy, and impossible to look away from. They are fire and gasoline, drawn to each other despite the chaos they create. Aminu, the brooding businessman with a guarded heart, and Tumini, the fierce, no-nonsense woman who refuses to be just another name in his life, share a connection that is equal parts electric and heartbreaking. The chemistry between Ayoola Ayolala and Mimi Chaka makes their bond a must-watch.
Their love is turbulent, filled with grand gestures, heated arguments, and moments so tender they make you forget the war they just had. Yet, no matter how much they push each other away, they always find their way back—because some loves are too strong to let go.
Gbemi and Toye
We might have a thing for middle-aged onscreen couples but you would if you witnessed Gbemi (Shaffy Bello) and Toye’s (Wale Ojo) romance in ‘Christmas in Lagos’. Their story is defined by ease and a deep appreciation for each other. Toye always has a gift in hand each time he sees Gbemi; he is constantly wooing her. And when Gbemi is unsure, he stays, he listens, and he lets her come to him.
When she does, it’s like finding someone who feels like home. The magic of their love isn’t in fireworks, but in quiet certainty. A love that fills us up and makes us forget our plantain on fire is one we could only hope to experience.
Dozie and Dunnie
The lovestory of Dunni and Dozie in ‘The Wedding Party’ is the kind of whirlwind romance that feels straight out of a fairytale—except with all the chaos and drama that comes with a true Nigerian wedding. She’s the beloved only daughter from an upper-class Yoruba family, and he’s the charming, slightly rebellious son of a wealthy Igbo dynasty, making their union a ticking time bomb of cultural clashes and family meddling.
However, through the turmoil of nosy aunties, wedding disasters, and last-minute doubts, their love shines through. Dunni and Dozie aren’t perfect, but their devotion to each other—the way he looks at her like she’s his safe place, the way she fights for them despite the odds—makes them a couple we can’t help but root for. In the end, their wedding might have been chaotic, but their love? Unshakeable. Can we also take a minute to applaud Adesua Etomi and Banky W’s onscreen chemistry? It is no wonder they are married now.
Whether it’s the fiery chemistry, the emotional rollercoaster, or the sweet, quiet moments of connection, these onscreen couples have captured our hearts and made us shout “God, when?” as we’ve watched their love stories unfold. They represent everything we crave in a relationship: authenticity, growth, and the undeniable pull that keeps us rooting for them. In the end, these couples aren’t just characters—they’re the dream of what love can be, and they’ve made us believe, if only for a moment, that it’s out there waiting for us too.
Who are your favourite onscreen couples in Nollywood?
