On a bright Tuesday morning in Lagos, 36-year-old Kemi Balogun is already on her second Zoom call. Her three-year-old son, Tobi, is in the next room watching cartoons and munching on puff-puff. Kemi, a marketing executive, is also a single mother. Her days are a delicate balance of business strategy, nursery runs, and managing the constant pressure of “what people will say.”
In 2025, Nigerian single mothers are rewriting the story — and doing so on their own terms. With growing financial independence, digital workspaces, and changing mindsets, more women are stepping into solo motherhood with strength. But the challenges remain deep — from judgmental family members to struggling with loneliness and economic pressure.
“You’re too educated to be single”
Kemi got divorced in 2021 after five years of marriage. “It was a toxic situation. I stayed because of shame and my parents’ pressure,” she says, her voice firm. “But I knew I wanted peace — for me and my child.”
Even though she earns well and lives in a comfortable flat in Lekki, people still look at her like she’s broken.
“When I say I’m divorced, they look at me like I failed. But I’ve never been stronger.”
Motherhood on Two Shoulders
Blessing Eze, a 29-year-old tailor in Enugu, wakes up at 5 a.m. every day. After preparing her daughter for school, she opens her small shop. She works six days a week, often until late evening.
“People think being a single mum is easy because they see Instagram mums wearing makeup and smiling,” Blessing says with a laugh. “But it’s not all rosy. Sometimes I cry when my daughter is asleep. It’s hard doing it alone.”
Her daughter’s father disappeared when she was pregnant. Since then, she’s been both mum and dad.
“My child doesn’t know what it feels like to have a father around. I just try to be enough.”
The Social Stigma Still Stings
Despite modern changes, many single mothers in Nigeria still face harsh judgment — especially from other women.
“Some even say I must have been rude to my husband,” says Ifeoma, a 42-year-old banker and mother of two in Abuja. “They don’t ask what he did. They blame me immediately.”
For many Nigerian women, society’s expectations are still clear: get married, stay married, raise a family. Deviating from that script comes with emotional punishment.
“People will smile to your face and gossip behind your back. Church members avoid eye contact. It’s like being marked,” Ifeoma says.
Finding Support, Building Community
But there’s a shift happening. More single mothers are finding community online — through WhatsApp groups, Instagram pages, and even physical meet-ups.
“There’s this group called MumCircle Naija,” says Kemi. “We talk about school runs, court issues, dating again. It helps to know you’re not alone.”
These support networks are filling the gap where society has failed — providing emotional, financial, and even legal advice for single mums.
Dating While Single Parenting
One part of life that gets tricky is dating.
“Some men run once they find out you have a child,” says Blessing. “Others pretend to care, but only want sex.”
For Ifeoma, she’s not even thinking about dating. “Right now, my kids are my focus. Maybe later, when they’re older. But I don’t want to bring anyone into their lives unless I’m 100% sure.”
A Future with Hope
Being a single mother in Nigeria in 2025 is still tough — but it’s not what it used to be. More women are speaking up, choosing peace over pressure, and embracing solo parenting with pride.
“I’m not ashamed,” says Kemi. “I’m raising a happy child. I’m building my career. I’m healing. That’s enough for me.”
Across cities and towns, from Port Harcourt to Kano, Nigerian single mothers are showing what strength truly looks like — not in perfection, but in persistence.
