Nigerian entrepreneur Sophia Momodu has spoken about the shame, mockery and silence she experienced after becoming pregnant outside marriage. Momodu shared the experience during a panel in New York on Tuesday, September 22, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The mother of one spoke about how her pregnancy became a difficult period in her life, particularly because she was raised as the daughter of a pastor. “To my life story, I am a pastor’s daughter who got pregnant out of wedlock by a global superstar. And I was mocked. It was crazy,” she said.

Momodu said the reaction to her pregnancy left her struggling to find her voice. Despite being a public figure, she said she found it difficult to speak about what she was going through. “For the longest time, I didn’t have a voice,” she said.

She recalled being advised by a family member not to discuss the situation publicly, saying the experience reflected the pressure placed on women to remain silent about issues considered embarrassing or unacceptable. According to Momodu, the stigma was particularly heavy because of her family and religious background. She said becoming pregnant outside marriage as a pastor’s daughter was viewed as a serious taboo.

She also spoke about the role another woman played in helping her regain confidence. Momodu said the woman gave her a platform to tell her story, which eventually encouraged her to speak more openly about her experiences.
Her comments came as she participated in activities around UNGA81, where she is representing the Precious Jewels Foundation.

Momodu had announced her participation in the gathering on September 19, describing it as an opportunity to contribute to conversations focused on communities, meaningful change and inclusion. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly’s high-level General Debate began on September 22 and will run until September 28 in New York.

Momodu’s appearance comes more than a decade after she welcomed her daughter, Imade Adeleke, in May 2015. Imade is the daughter of singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

Her pregnancy and relationship with Davido have remained part of her public story over the years. However, at the UNGA panel, Momodu focused on the personal impact of the experience, particularly the judgement she faced and the difficulty of speaking for herself.

She said finding her voice after years of silence became an important part of her journey and one that eventually pushed her towards using her experiences to speak about issues affecting women.