Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Eniola Ajao has shared a deeply personal account of becoming a mother at the age of 20, revealing the emotional toll and societal pressures she faced during that period.
Speaking on the Talk To B podcast, Ajao recounted how she concealed her pregnancy out of fear of public judgment and the stigma attached to young, unmarried mothers. According to the actress, only close friends and family were aware of her condition at the time.
“Getting pregnant at 20 was dramatic. You feel like the world is against you,” she said. “I hid it because people would label you a ‘baby mama’ and say you won’t find a husband again. At that time, it felt like shame.”
She noted that although early marriages were not uncommon in Nigeria, societal expectations in her community leaned toward completing higher education before starting a family. “Omotola got married at 18, some even earlier. But where I come from, they expect you to graduate first. I was already in Yabatech when I got pregnant,” she explained.
Despite the challenges, Ajao expressed no regrets about her decision, but acknowledged the mental strain of carrying such a secret. “You think your life is over. It’s a lonely place to be.”
The 44-year-old actress gave birth to her son in May 2002. Her revelation adds to the ongoing public conversation about the societal pressures young women face and the need for greater understanding and support for teenage mothers.
