YES to the Drama: Blessing CEO and IVD’s Engagement Sets Social Media Ablaze

In an announcement that has sent shockwaves through social media and reignited a blaze of controversy, popular self-styled relationship therapist and influencer, Blessing Okoro—widely known as Blessing CEO—has officially revealed her engagement to embattled businessman Ikechukwu Darry Ogbonna, popularly known as IVD. The announcement came early Tuesday, April 15, 2025, via her verified Facebook page, where she shared stunning photos of the romantic beachside proposal, capped off with a succinct but powerful caption: “SAID YES.”

This engagement has stirred a cocktail of emotions across Nigeria’s digital landscape. While fans flooded her page with congratulatory messages, others reacted with skepticism, criticism, and even outright condemnation. Known for courting controversy and capitalizing on viral moments, Blessing CEO's public declaration of love for IVD has rekindled interest in their highly publicized and turbulent relationship—a connection many believed was ill-advised from the beginning.

For many Nigerians, the uproar isn’t just about the engagement itself but the history it’s built upon. IVD, a prominent car dealer, has been entangled in a cloud of scandal since the tragic death of his wife in 2022 under controversial circumstances. Allegations of domestic abuse and infidelity swirled around the case, drawing intense media scrutiny and public backlash. The wounds of that saga still feel fresh to many, which explains the visceral reaction to Blessing CEO’s latest romantic milestone.

Despite the noise, Blessing CEO seemed determined to set a different tone this time. Her engagement post was not just an announcement—it was a love letter, poetic and soft, showing a different side of the woman known for her blunt online persona. “For the first time I did not want drama,” she wrote. “For the first time I did not want the noise. I just wanted peace and softness!” Yet, ironically, the moment she tried to step away from the drama, it found her once again.

Her love for IVD, she claims, didn’t sprout from romance but from duty. According to Blessing, their relationship started professionally—she was his therapist, drawn to a man she described as “bullied and intimidated.” In various interviews, she has passionately defended their bond, explaining that their connection was rooted in healing and understanding, not scandal. She insists that she came to know the real IVD, the one behind the headlines, and that the image portrayed by the media was not only misleading but deeply unfair.

“I think for me and IVD, it wasn’t love immediately; it was work. I saw a man that was being intimidated and bullied. I just wanted to help,” she said in one recent statement, adding that IVD’s supposed flaws had been grossly exaggerated. “No man is perfect. IVD is not what they have portrayed in the media. I feel honoured to know a part of him that a lot of people cannot see.”

Still, critics have not held back. One of the biggest concerns raised is the ethical gray area surrounding their relationship’s origin. Mental health professionals and commentators alike have expressed dismay that a therapist would enter into a romantic relationship with someone who once came to her for therapy—raising questions about professional boundaries and the implications of power dynamics in such relationships. But Blessing CEO is unfazed. “When people come to you, they come to you for a particular job. Outside the job, anything can happen,” she said defiantly.

What complicates matters further is the public perception of IVD’s past and Blessing’s unwavering belief in his innocence or at least his transformation. She’s gone so far as to suggest that even if the allegations of abuse against his late wife were true, it wouldn’t reflect the kind of partner he is to her. “Sometimes, I ask— where is the man I read about online, the womaniser? But, for three years, I have actually handled his phone, and he handles mine. I haven’t seen anything like violence or womanising. I’ve just seen a baby.”

The engagement, in many ways, is not just a personal milestone—it’s a loud, defiant clap back at public judgment. In her usual fiery fashion, Blessing CEO has made it clear that her love story will not be dictated by societal expectations or media narratives. “If the love is not tough, then it’s not love,” she declared. That statement alone perfectly encapsulates her brand of unapologetic, raw, and often polarizing honesty.

Supporters of the couple have pointed out that every individual deserves love and a chance to rebuild, especially after public downfall. They see Blessing’s unwavering loyalty to IVD not as naivety, but as strength. They praise her for choosing love over judgment, for seeing the human behind the headlines, and for daring to pursue happiness in the face of brutal scrutiny.

Still, there’s no denying the engagement will remain a talking point for weeks to come. For some, it’s a love story with shades of redemption. For others, it’s a case study in questionable ethics and troubling decisions. But what no one can deny is the impact—it has gripped Nigeria’s attention like few celebrity relationships can.

Whether or not the public embraces this union, Blessing CEO and IVD appear determined to write their own narrative. In an age where social media blurs the lines between reality and performance, their love story may very well be the perfect storm of both—a mixture of vulnerability, scandal, and spectacle.

For now, the internet watches with bated breath, ready for the next chapter in this love story that refuses to stay quiet. Because with Blessing CEO, silence was never really an option.