Romantic love is a big topic in Nigeria. People talk about it every day. It shows up in music, movies, and even small conversations with friends. Still, one question keeps coming up.
Is romantic love underrated or overrated?
The answer is not simple.
Today, love feels different for many people. It no longer feels light or easy. Instead, it feels stressful and sometimes confusing. Because of this, people now see love in different ways.
For example, Oluwatosin, a 23-year-old, believes romantic love is underrated. However, his reason is not emotional. He feels many people now focus on what they can gain from a relationship. They ask, “What will I get?” Instead of “What can we build?” As a result, love starts to lose its meaning. What should feel deep begins to feel shallow.
In the same way, Mmesoma, a corp member in Lagos, also thinks love is underrated. However, she points to money as the main issue. According to her, many relationships now depend on financial strength. Gifts, support, and spending have become key factors. Because of this, emotional connection becomes weaker. Love is still there, but money often takes the lead.
On the other hand, not everyone agrees.
Mr. Adebayo Mubarak, a married man, believes romantic love is overrated. In his view, people focus too much on feelings. He explains that emotions alone cannot hold a relationship together. Instead, he values honesty, respect, commitment, and support. These are the things that keep a relationship strong over time.
He also explains that emotions can be misleading. At the beginning, everything may feel exciting. However, feelings can change. When that happens, what remains? If there is no strong foundation, the relationship may not last.
Because of this, he believes love needs more than romance. It needs effort and responsibility. It needs people who will stay committed even when things are not easy.
When you look at all these views, one thing becomes clear. The problem is not just about whether love is underrated or overrated. The real issue is how people understand it.
On one side, love loses value when it becomes all about money or personal gain. On the other side, it becomes weak when it depends only on feelings.
So, balance is important.
Love needs emotion, but it also needs character. It needs connection, but it also needs consistency. Without both, something will always feel missing.
Maybe love has not changed completely. Maybe people are just trying to adjust to new realities.
So, in today’s Nigeria, are people truly experiencing romantic love… or simply redefining it to fit their situation?
