PERFECTLY PAIRED: The Persistent intentionality of manhood and God's timing; Adeleye and Dolapo Adeniyi story.
- Oluwapelumi Ikuomenisan
- Feb 14
- 5 min read
“PERFECTLY PAIRED” is A Valentine's Day campaign By The Baton to celebrate Love, Romance, and the creator of it all - God.
We commissioned this campaign around perfect pairs that go well together. Our first couple Adeleye and Dolapo, married in 2024.
We interviewed ADELEYE and DOLAPO ADENIYI, gleaning insight into their story to understand what being perfectly paired is.
Hi guys! Can we get a quick introduction? Your name, what you do, and a fun fact.
Adeleye: My name is Adeleye Adeniyi. People call me Leyonne. I am a cinematographer and filmmaker.
A fun fact. Hmm. I think it would be that I love what I do so much that I don’t have time for any other side hustle. Like, I literally can’t do anything on the side. Also, I swim. I guess that’s a fun fact.
Dolapo: My name is Dolapo Adeniyi. I’m a makeup and beauty artist. A fun fact about me is that I can create anything with my hands. I do makeup and make dresses. There is almost nothing I can’t create with my hands.
Can you give us a brief story on how you met?
Dolapo: Let me start by saying, “In the beginning, I did not like him.”
Dolapo: In 2019, he sent me a DM on IG. “Hi, My name is Adeleye. I saw your picture on my Explore page. You are a really beautiful lady”
Then he asked me out on a date.
I replied to his DM because he was straightforward and clear with what he wanted. I used to get a lot of DMs, he wasn’t one of those guys who would send “Hi” every other day for months.
So, did you go on that date?
Dolapo: Yes, eventually. After I replied to his DM, we kept texting. But the date didn't happen immediately, I had one excuse or the other. Eventually, I agreed to the date and we went to a show.
The funny thing is, I didn’t like him. He was quite rough. In my head, I was like, “Me, I took time to dress up and look good. I even did my hair the day before. And you now came here with rough hair”. Anyway, the date happened, we spoke. He told me about his business which was just starting. It was okay. However, my conclusion was that I did not like him. We kept talking after the date.
Then, He asked me out. It was in 2021, at an annual relationship conference hosted by my church. Johnny Drille performed there, so I think he was inspired by the love that was in the air. He just came to me after the conference and said, “ Dolapo, I want you to be my girlfriend. Will you be my girlfriend?’ I was surprised o. But, I told him that I’d reply to him by 1:00 p.m. the next day. So, what I did was write a list of the reasons why we couldn’t work out. Then, I sent it to him at 1:00 p.m. the next day.
He was chill and said we could still be friends, but we did not remain friends. I just realized that I had stopped seeing his posts. He said he unfollowed me because seeing my posts and pictures caused him heartache. The truth is, I wasn’t ready for a relationship. I had school and my business. I wasn’t ready.
Time passed and then, we reconnected again in 2023.
2023? Wow, that’s a long time.
Dolapo: Yes. It was.
What was the defining moment in your relationship, when you realized that your partner was perfect for you and that you wanted to do forever with this person?
Dolapo: Hmm, Defining moment. There was no physical defining moment for me. It was mostly spiritual.
By 2023, God had prepared my heart for a relationship. I saw a vision in September 2023, where God told me that I was starting a new phase of my life, and I didn’t even know that it had to do with a relationship. But, after that, we reconnected in October 2023. I accidentally found his page and I was impressed. The business he told me about in 2019 was doing so well.
Adeleye: Can I continue?
Yes, please
Adeleye: So, that period, before we reconnected, I was in a situation that didn’t work out, and honestly, I think it was just God keeping me.
So, she found my page and I guess, accidentally liked a post. So, I was the notification and was like, “ Oh, this girl”. Then I hit her up, just to check in and catch up.
Dolapo: And he asked me out on a date, as is his usual fashion.
Adeleye: I’m an intentional man.
Dolapo: That weekend, we went on a date and saw a movie. Our conversations were better, more informed, and mature. And you know, we were both in a better place.
Adeleye: From our conversations, even after the date, I had a knowing that this was the person I should be with. So, I asked her out, again.
Dolapo: Yeah. Before he asked me out, I had been praying about our relationship because he was very clear about what he wanted, Then, after he asked me out, I prayed again and on the first day of Reboot Camp - An annual camp meeting by my church, after getting clear words from God, I said yes to him.
Adeleye, given your career paths, assignments, and purpose, would you say that there is some form of alignment? How has it affected your marriage and service to God?
Adeleye: Yes, there is alignment. When I was trusting God for a partner, I silently told Him that I wanted someone creative, who could work with their hands. From our conversations, it was evident that she was not only creative but also deeply passionate about her craft. Even before we started dating, she had already made a name for herself in makeup artistry. She was a big deal. That stood out to me. Now, in our marriage and service to God, that alignment remains clear. We both use our creative skills with purpose, glorifying God in all we do. We also collaborate on various projects, and in fact, we’re currently working on one together.
Dolapo, If you could describe your journey with a single word, what would it be and why?
Dolapo: I would say Surreal. Because, from how we met, to the period we lost connection, to our reconnection, and even to our marriage, I can just God’s hand in it. God orchestrated it. So yeah, surreal.
Adeleye, What qualities do you believe make two individuals “perfectly paired”?
Adeleye: For me, it would be the Holy Spirit. When both partners have the Holy Spirit and are led by Him, they remain in alignment with God and never lack divine direction. Through His influence, they also stay in alignment with each other. With that foundation, everything else is sure to fall into place in their journey.
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