Nigerian music executive and entrepreneur, Ubi Franklin, has publicly labeled the decision to have children with different women as one of the most significant regrets of his life. In a new podcast series, Talks with Ubi Franklin, the talent manager urged young men to prioritize family stability and avoid the complexities that often follow fragmented family structures.
Addressing his audience, Franklin stated, “Hello, my young brothers, this is for you. My name is Ubi Franklin, and I want to have a conversation with you.” He continued, “One of the worst decisions you can ever make is to have kids with different women. I’ll tell you, I’m one of those people who are in it, and we can tell you that no matter the money that you think you have, no matter what you think you’re doing, trust me, that should never be a decision you’re going to make in your life”.
While he acknowledged that he has been fortunate enough to afford the financial responsibilities of raising his children, he emphasized that money does not solve the emotional and logistical hurdles involved in co-parenting across different households.
“Some of us are lucky enough that God has given us some good money to be able to take care of them, but taking care of them is not the problem. It’s managing the emotions of the adults who are their mothers,” he noted.
The entrepreneur, who is a father of four, urged young men to spare themselves the exhaustion of baby mama drama.
“Please and please, no matter the money you have, no matter the life you want to live, let baby mama drama not be part of it, because for some of us, we survived it, but some of you might not be able to survive it,” he warned.
He reflected on his life choices, acknowledging that while he is often referred to as having “nine lives,” there are certain paths he wishes he had not taken. “Some people always say Ubi is a cat with nine lives, and I always say yes, but I don’t know how many lives I have lived. One thing is very important: I wish that some things that have happened in my life, and this is one of them, I wish that I had taken a different road on it”.
Despite the challenges, Franklin maintained that children remain a gift. “Children are the best things that we can ever have in our lives. If you can do anything possible in your life, just have all of them in one place,” he said. “This series is basically an expose. I’m going to speak about anything and everything, but I feel like it’s an opportunity for you to watch, learn and take home something,” Franklin added.
Franklin’s public life has been marked by both professional success and recurring personal controversies. He gained prominence as the founder of the Made Men Music Group (MMMG), but his personal life, particularly his marriage to actress Lilian Esoro often took center stage in the media. The couple wed in 2015 but separated less than a year later, leading to a long-drawn-out divorce process that captivated the public for years. Reports from the period indicated that the estranged couple often avoided each other at public events, fueling constant speculation about their relationship status.
Beyond his marriage, Franklin has faced ongoing scrutiny regarding his relationships with various women. His life has been a subject of frequent gossip, with reports highlighting feuds between his romantic partners and himself, including instances where he was accused of cloning credit cards or being trolled by those associated with his past relationships.
Also, Franklin’s professional life has not been immune to these criticisms. His close association with superstar singer Davido has occasionally invited backlash from critics who label him a “personal assistant” or “nanny” due to his active involvement in the singer’s affairs. Franklin has consistently refuted these claims, maintaining that he serves as a business administrator and “solutionist” for Davido’s brand, leveraging his professional experience in the music industry.
Additionally, he has periodically faced public questioning regarding his business ventures, particularly in real estate, where he has had to defend his track record against critics who occasionally drag him over business deals that failed to meet public expectations.
