Otonbara George- Ikoli, fondly known to many as Oti, and his stunning bride, Julia Shavaeva, recently celebrated their marriage in the United Kingdom with an intimate courthouse ceremony followed by a warm garden reception attended by close family and friends.
Oti is the son of Chief Anthony George-Ikoli SAN, Nigerian legal luminary, and scion of the Ernest Sesei Ikoli illustrious family from Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The father, Chief Anthony is the first senior advocate and the first SAN to hold the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa State. His grandfather, Ernest Sesei Ikoli was the first African Editor of Daily Times Newspapers and one of the foremost nationalists that fought for Nigeria’s independence.
Originally from Russia and Nigeria respectively, Zulia and Otonbara are now building their life together in the UK while pursuing successful careers.
Zulia, who studied Computer Science in Durham, works in AI security at Amazon Web Services (AWS). She was recently appointed to a Security Lead role across EMEA — Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Otonbara, who holds an MBA from the University of Stirling, works as a Sales Lead in the luxury travel and yachting holiday industry and has also recently advanced in his career.
Their love story began in memorable fashion during Otonbara’s 30th birthday celebration in Morocco. Since then, he has often joked that Zulia was his “birthday gift from God,” while she says he was hers. Two years later, their journey came full circle with a surprise proposal under the Moroccan sun. Unaware of what was coming, Zulia accepted Otonbara’s proposal during a private moment in the desert on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
The couple intentionally chose to keep their UK wedding simple and meaningful, opting for a modest courthouse ceremony followed by a family garden celebration. Rather than hosting one large event, they plan to hold future cultural celebrations in both Nigeria and Russia to honour their heritage, families and traditions.
Travel has played an important role in their relationship. Together, they have visited destinations including Morocco, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Nigeria and Russia, with many more adventures planned. Their next destinations include Malaysia, India and other parts of Southeast Asia as they continue creating memories across cultures and continents.
Beyond travel, the couple share a passion for cooking, discovering new cultures and creating a home defined by warmth, ambition and family values. Zulia is passionate about security, technology and community engagement, including her involvement with AWS Cloud Women in Manchester, an initiative that brings together hundreds of participants each month. Otonbara also maintains strong community ties and is passionate about supporting communities in Nigeria.
The couple expressed gratitude to their families and friends for making their wedding day memorable, with special appreciation to their parents and everyone whose love and support contributed to the celebration.
Looking ahead, Zulia and Otonbara are preparing for their honeymoon and future traditional ceremonies while continuing to grow together in their careers, personal lives and family life.
For Zulia and Otonbara, marriage represents not only the beginning of a new chapter but also the union of two cultures, two families and a shared future built on love, faith, tradition, ambition and adventure.
