SOPHIA MOMODU RECALLS MOCKERY AFTER PREGNANCY OUTSIDE MARRIAGE

Nigerian entrepreneur Sophia Momodu has spoken about the stigma and ridicule she experienced after becoming pregnant outside marriage, saying the situation was particularly difficult because she was raised as the daughter of a pastor. Momodu shared the experience during a side panel on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she reflected on the public reaction to her pregnancy and the difficulty she faced in speaking openly about her experience.

Momodu, who is the mother of singer Davido’s first child, Imade Adeleke, said she was mocked after becoming pregnant by the music star. She described the experience as overwhelming and said she had to find the strength to deal with the attention and negativity surrounding her story. According to her, being famous and well known did not mean she had a voice at the time, as the criticism and public discussions surrounding her personal life often overshadowed her own perspective.

The entrepreneur said the stigma was particularly strong because of her Nigerian and religious background. She explained that having a child outside marriage is heavily frowned upon in some Nigerian social and religious settings, especially when the woman is a pastor’s daughter. Momodu said the experience left her struggling to express herself for a long period, adding that she eventually realised that she needed to tell her own story in a way that allowed people to understand what she had experienced rather than allowing public opinion to define it.

Momodu also recalled an occasion when an aunt contacted her after someone allegedly asked her to remain silent about the issue. She said she was told that the subject was not something Black women were expected to discuss publicly. However, speaking about her experience at different forums, including radio stations in South Africa, eventually helped her realise that she was not alone. She said several women approached her after hearing her story and shared similar experiences of stigma and pressure.

The entrepreneur said those encounters encouraged her to continue speaking about her experience and using her platform to discuss issues affecting women. Momodu said another woman’s story and the opportunity to participate in conversations around women’s experiences gave her the confidence to tell her own story publicly. Her appearance at events surrounding the 81st UN General Assembly forms part of her broader public advocacy work, with the experience of becoming a mother and dealing with the accompanying public scrutiny remaining an important part of her personal story.