Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Eniola Ajao, has revealed the emotional and societal challenges she faced after getting pregnant at the age of 20.
Speaking during a heartfelt interview on the Talk To B podcast, Ajao shared how the fear of judgment and societal expectations pushed her into isolation, forcing her to keep the pregnancy a secret.
“Things weren’t the same back then. Getting pregnant at 20 was dramatic. It felt like the world was against me,” she said. “At some point, you might even feel like giving up, thinking marriage might not be possible again due to the stigma.”
The actress, who was a student at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) at the time, said she kept the news away from her parents and the public, only confiding in close friends and family. She expressed concern about being tagged a “baby mama,” a label she feared would define her identity.
“You’ll want to hide it because people see it as shameful, even if you don’t feel that way yourself,” she explained.
Ajao also reflected on how cultural expectations influenced her experience, saying, “Omotola got married at 18, and others at 17, but in my community, you’re expected to finish school and accomplish certain things first.”
Her story sheds light on the silent battles many young women face in similar situations, especially within traditional communities.
