Without mincing words, raising kids remains one of the most difficult and draining human tasks. And regardless of all these, they are lots of parents doing this journey alone, especially women, yet many of them are doing it so well.
So, we are taking a look at some of the Nigerian female celebrities who are doing parenting alone, for many years now, as the men who were initially in the journey with them had abandoned them to their fates.
Besides, you can imagine the economic reality in the country, especially the worsening high cost of living? Then you can as well imagine what most of these women are going through on the daily just to ensure they give their children the best of what life can offer.
IYABO OJO:
Married to a Lagos based clearing agent, Ademidun Ojo, that was in 1999 while she was just 21, their married produced two kids; Felix Ojo and Priscilla Ojo born in 1999 and 2001 respectively.
But the marriage crashed in 2001, the same year they had their last child, Priscilla Ojo. She recently started dating music executive and businessman, Paul Okoye A.K.A Paulo.
While she is solely responsible for the upbringing of their kids, she has often lamented that it hasn’t been easy for her walking that path, but not going to give up.
LINDA IKEJI:
The self made billionaire blogger got pregnant for popular and wealthy socialite Sholaye Jeremi in 2018, though they had met since 2015.
Shortly after the birth of her son Jayce, she penned a lengthy detailing why she couldn’t continue with her baby father, and since then she has been taking care of the boy till date.
YVONNE JEGEDE:
Married to actor Olakunle ‘Abounce’ Fawole in February 2017, their marriage crashed in March 2019, but produced a son.
The actress has reportedly been responsible for upbringing and catering of their son since their marriage crashed, and has alleged that her ex husband has refused to be part of the upbringing of their son, Xavier JEGEDE, who will be 6 year old in November.
TONTO DIKEH:
She got married to socialite and businessman, Olakunle Churchill in 2015, but their marriage crashed in 2017.
But before then, they already had a son together, named King Andre who was born on 17th February 2016. She had a bitter divorce with Churchill and has been taking care of Andre since then.
Recently, she revealed during an interview that divorcing Churchill was the best decision of her life.
MERCY AIGBE:
Married to popular hotelier and businessman, Asiwaju Gentry both their marriage briefly lasted between 2013-2019 during which they had a son together named Olajuwon Gentry who turned 14 on June 18, 2024.
Though she later remarried Kareem Adeoti in 2022. Prior to then, she has been responsible with the upbringing and upkeep of their son alone.
WAJE:
The popular Nigerian female singer has been taking care of her girl child alone since her birth as her father was completely absent in her life.
Her daughter daughter Emerald Ogo Iruobe turned 25 in March 2024. Recall she had the daughter when she was just 18 years old, while she was writing her senior secondary school examinations, and no man has been linked to her as her daughter’s father, till date.
ADUNNI ADE:
She’s a Nigerian-American actress and producer, who is blessed with two cute sons, D’marion Young and Ayden Young.
She had the boys with her former partner, Michael Boyd, whom he dated for eight years, but they never got married to each other. She has never denied how hard it has been for her raising her boys since she parted ways with their dad.
ANGELA OKORIE:
The controversial Nollywood actress and mother of one got married to her rich hubby and long time boyfriend, Chukwuma Orizu, in 2006 and the marriage which had a son, Chamberlain Kasiemobi Orizu, crashed in 2015, but was finalized in 2016.
She did quit the marriage because she reportedly fell out of love following pressure from her hubby’s family to quit her entertainment career.
Since then she has been with her son, catering for him as well, until she remarried in 2020, to a certain Michael Nwele Chukwudi, A.K.A ‘Baby Chuchu’ which was later said to be a media stunt just to promote her song then titled “Baby Chuchu”.
Her son Chamberlain was born on September 5, 2011.
GENEVIEVE NNAJI:
The quiet and first class Nollywood actress, producer and movie director had her daughter, Theodora Chimebuka Nnaji, whom she gave birth to in 1996, when the actress was reportedly 17 years old.
She has never been married, and as such, has been taking care of her daughter alone. But her daughter is already married, as she got married to Prince Osi Chigozie Ikediwa. The couple got married in 2016 at Mbaise, Imo State, and their marriage is already blessed with a baby boy.
INI EDO:
The Nollywood actress was previously married to American based businessman, Philip Ehiagwina, their marriage latest for just five years (2008-2014). She never remarried since the crash of that marriage as she focused on her life and career.
Well, she recently opted for surrogacy and had a beautiful daughter through the process which was successful. She welcomed her daughter, Precious Angel Light, on March 15, 2021.
She has been the one catering for her daughter alone as there’s no Husband figure in her life currently.
TO BE CONTINUED…
