Nollywood actress and filmmaker Eniola Ajao has opened up about the emotional challenges she faced after becoming a mother at 20, describing the experience as overwhelming and shaped by societal judgment.
Appearing on the Talk To B podcast, Ajao recalled the turmoil of discovering she was pregnant while still a student at Yaba College of Technology. “It was dramatic,” she admitted. “I felt like my world was collapsing. I truly believed I might never get married, that my life was essentially over. The stigma was intense.”
Now 44, Ajao reflected on the heavy cultural pressure surrounding young, unmarried mothers. “The term ‘baby mama’ carried such a negative connotation. It wasn’t just about personal shame it was how society viewed it,” she said.
To avoid backlash, Ajao kept the pregnancy largely hidden, confiding only in a few close friends and family members. “Even my parents didn’t know at first. I didn’t want to face the judgment,” she shared.
She contrasted her experience with that of other women who married young. “Omotola got married at 18. A lot of women did. But in my environment, education came first. You were expected to graduate before thinking about marriage.”
Despite the stigma and emotional weight, Ajao raised her son privately and deliberately kept him out of the public eye. In May 2024, she publicly reaffirmed her decision to shield him from social media and public attention, maintaining a clear line between her personal and professional life.
To this day, Ajao keeps her relationship status private, continuing to navigate fame on her own terms.
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