A glimpse into the gifts and little indulgences our editors are hoping to wake up to this Christmas.
Setting up a Christmas tree in many Nigerian homes is a tradition. However, the idea of Santa Claus showing up with gifts isn’t quite the reality — unless you’re four years old and still believe in that. Amidst that, the joy of unwrapping presents is very real and amplifies the excitement on Christmas morning
As we count down to Christmas Day, I asked the team a few questions. If you could unwrap any gift, no matter the budget, what would it be? Additionally, if Santa could reward you for the goals you chased this year, what would you ask for? From realistic pleas for him to pay our rent to heartfelt hopes for world peace, their answers were thoughtful, honest, and intentional.
Keep reading to find out the gifts they’d love to unwrap this Christmas — and if you happen to be friends with (or know) anyone on the team, consider this your subtle guide to get what they might want this season.
Denise Eseimokumoh, Editor-in-Chief
For Denise, gifts are not about tangible objects. She’s leaning fully into experiences, dreaming of “an all-expense paid tour of Europe and South America with her boyfriend” (someone cue the butterflies swelling in my belly). It’s the kind of gift that creates memories long after Christmas morning has passed.
As a woman who knows what she wants — there’s nothing she wouldn’t buy for herself — but if Santa were paying attention to her 2025 goals, vacation tickets and tours would be right on target. Still, on Christmas morning, there should always be unwrapping of a “thoughtful, expensive gift”
Esther Akinbola, Content editor
For Esther, Christmas magic comes wrapped in pink. Her dream gift is the “M5 iPad Pro” — a long-held wish that feels as practical as it is delightful. She loves the idea of ditching her MacBook for something lighter, cuter, and easier to carry, and is already imagining it dressed up in stylish cases and playful stickers.
There’s also the “Kisslock Frame Bag 16 by Coach” — a piece she wouldn’t splurge on herself but would happily receive under the tree — and “Ruby Red Mesh Pumps by Jimmy Choo. Perfect Christmas gift and perfect reward for a busy year.” For Esther, Christmas morning wouldn’t feel complete without unwrapping that pink M5 iPad Pro she’s been dreaming about.
Oyindamola Adebiyi, Lifestyle & Culture Writer
Oyindamola’s dream gift signals change. She’s holding out for an “iPhone 17 Air, not because she upgrades her phones often, but because she’s ready for something new after using the same phone for years. For this particular upgrade, her mantra is simple: “Go big or go home.”
Her fantasy gift? “A Mercedes AMG GLE53 in mocha mousse. She admits, “I wouldn’t buy it myself because I’m not psyched about driving, I don’t even know how to, but yeah, it would be nice to see under the tree.” Looking back on her 2025 goals, the perfect reward for all her efforts this year would be landed property, though on Christmas morning, it’s the small comforts that matter, as it wouldn’t be complete without her unwrapping “a box of chocolates.
Keno Ikime, Social Editor
Keno’s Christmas wishes are refreshingly honest. At the top of her list is “a new phone with sufficient storage”— a practical dream rooted in everyday need and also the perfect gift for our social media queen. There’s also a beauty fantasy she hasn’t been able to indulge in yet, but would love to see under the Christmas tree ”There’s so much I want from Danessa Myricks but can’t currently afford, so that would be nice”
If Santa really wanted to reward her for the year she’s had, her answer is straightforward and as realistic as a wish can get, as she says, “I just need him to pay my rent.
Patricia Ellah, Features editor
Patricia’s dream gift is as expansive as it is heartfelt: World peace. But closer to home, there are softer wishes too. A puppy is something she wouldn’t buy for herself but would love to find under the tree. If Santa were rewarding her for her 2025 goals, “a car, driving classes, and a driving licence” would be perfect.
On Christmas morning, though, she keeps it simple, as all she would need to unwrap to make the day complete is “cash.
Chinazam Ikechi-Uko, Fashion & Beauty Editor
Chinazam’s dream gift taps into one of the biggest on-screen phenomena this year. She has her heart set on a “Stranger Things pop-up book. She mentions that “This might be recency bias, but the middle of the book has a life like Demogorgon pops out and I think it is so cool.” She’s also dreaming bigger, and even if it’s not something you can exactly unwrap, she would love to “find the perfect loft.”
She also finds comfort in the little things. She might not get it for herself, but she’d love a Chowdeck gift card, and her Christmas morning wouldn’t be complete without unwrapping a couple of hampers. As the year 2025 ends, she keeps her quiet hope that one day Santa delivers that loft she’s been yearning for.
Ashim Ojeh, Fashion & Beauty writer
For me, my Christmas dream is a mix of fanship and adventure. All I want for Christmas is an all-expense paid trip to South Korea, with tickets to my favourite artists’ concerts. I used to have a tradition of buying a K-pop album every year, but the prices nowadays are really high. I haven’t got one in about three years, so it would be great if someone could get one for me. Of course, from my ultimate group, which is ATEEZ.
Looking at my 2025 goals, I believe my greatest reward would just be stability for my entire family — emotional, financial, and mental. It’s been a tough year, and it would be great if we could all be rewarded for it. Rather than Christmas morning being incomplete without unwrapping a gift, it truly wouldn’t be complete without our usual Christmas morning food spread, and I just can’t wait for all the food.
‘Tis the season to be jolly
The team’s Christmas wish lists remind us that gifts are as much about joy and personal meaning as they are about actual things. Some wishes are indulgent, some practical, and some deeply heartfelt — but all capture the spirit of giving, celebrating, the reward of a year well lived and looking forward to the year ahead. After all, Christmas isn’t just about what’s under the tree, but the moments, memories, and little traditions that make it feel truly special.
Read more: The 10 holiday romance movies I’ll be watching this December
