Across cultures and centuries, reverence for motherhood has remained a constant thread in human society. From the ancient Greeks, who honoured Rhea, the mother of the gods, to the Christian tradition of Mothering Sunday, maternal love has been celebrated in diverse ways.
In the early 20th century, Mother’s Day gained prominence through the efforts of Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, United States. Inspired by her mother’s dedication to healing post-Civil War wounds, Anna led the campaign that saw President Woodrow Wilson officially recognise Mother’s Day as a national holiday in 1914. Since then, many countries have adopted the second Sunday of May as a day to honour mothers. The first official celebration took place at a Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia.
Yet, in Nigeria, the observance of Mother’s Day is anything but uniform. The celebration reflects the country’s pluralism, shaped by faith, culture, and colonial heritage.
Mother’s Day/Mothering Sunday
The Anglican Church in Nigeria, following the Church of England (COE), observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter.
Historically, the COE viewed this as a day to appreciate one’s home church and those who nurtured one’s faith from childhood.
The tradition, dating back to the 16th century, was later associated with visiting one’s mother church or home parish. Over time, picking flowers for mothers and decorating churches became part of the celebration. Constance Smith’s book, “Revival of Mothering Sunday” (1920), further popularised the practice, and by 1938, every parish in the UK observed the day. Over time, Mothering Sunday and
Mother’s Day became intertwined.
Conversely, the Catholic Church in Nigeria designates the Sunday immediately after the Annunciation (March 25th) as a feast commemorating the Virgin Mary’s divine motherhood. Occasionally, these two dates can overlap, as is the case this year, 2025. Meanwhile, many secular groups and individuals in Nigeria follow the American-influenced tradition of marking Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. As a result, Nigerian mothers are often celebrated on at least three different occasions each year.
This multiplicity of dates is not accidental. It reflects the complexity of Nigeria’s social fabric. In a country where motherhood is both a personal and communal experience, these variations mirror its rich diversity. The Yoruba concept of Ìyá ni wúrà (mother is gold) and the Igbo reverence for Nneka (mother is supreme) exemplify how different cultures universally honour motherhood while expressing it in unique ways.
A Case for Harmonisation?
While Nigeria’s varied observances of Mother’s Day reflect its pluralism, there is an argument for harmonisation. A unified national date—whether based on indigenous traditions, interfaith consensus, or alignment with global practice—could enhance the celebration’s impact. Countries like Ethiopia (the second Sunday of May) and Thailand (August 12th, the Queen’s birthday) demonstrate how a fixed date can foster collective appreciation without erasing cultural nuances.
Imagine a Nigeria where, on a designated day, markets and shops are bustling with children buying gifts, religious institutions are offering special prayers, and media platforms are amplifying tributes to mothers. Such unity could create a shared moment of gratitude, reinforcing the societal bonds that mothers nurture within families.
Honouring the Unsung heroines
As we celebrate, we must also remember the unsung heroines. These are the mothers who toil quietly on farms and in markets to educate their children, who weep over the misfortunes that befall their offspring, and who have suffered discrimination, oppression, and exploitation. In a nation where women constitute nearly half the workforce yet face persistent gender gaps, Mother’s Day should be more than a day of celebration—it should be a moment for reflection on policies that affect maternal health, childcare support, gender balance, and economic equity.
Dear mothers, your labour is the backbone of our nation’s visible and invisible infrastructure. Whether your special day is marked in March, May, or every Sunday, your worth transcends the calendar.
And to those whose legacies live on in memory—heroines like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Queen Moremi Ajasoro, Queen Amina Bakwa, Prof. Dora Akunyili, and Dr. Stella Adadevoh—may their sacrifices continue to inspire future generations.
Ultimately, what matters is not just when we celebrate, but that we recognise the immeasurable contributions of mothers to Nigeria’s development. This selflessness is beautifully captured in Ann Taylor’s timeless poem, My Mother:
“Who sat and watched my infant head
When sleeping on my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed
My Mother”.
(Ann Taylor) [email protected]
