New York — Nigerian entrepreneur and public figure Sophia Momodu has opened up about the intense public mockery and stigma she faced after becoming pregnant out of wedlock as a pastor’s daughter for Afrobeats superstar Davido.
Momodu made the candid remarks on Tuesday during a side panel discussion at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In a video shared via her Instagram Story, she reflected on one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
“This is 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. And I had to find my strength in the midst of all of that,” she said.
Momodu explained that despite her growing public profile at the time, she felt silenced for years as negative narratives surrounding her relationship with Davido overwhelmed her own voice.
“For the longest time, I didn’t have a voice. I was famous, I was popular, but I didn’t have a voice. It kept getting drowned out by whatever the negativity was around that story,” she continued. “If you’re Nigerian and you’re here, you know that it’s almost a taboo to be a pastor’s daughter and have a child out of wedlock.”
Momodu and Davido (real name David Adeleke) were in a relationship around 2015. Their daughter, Imade Adeleke, was born on May 14, 2015. DNA testing later confirmed paternity. The pair’s relationship was turbulent and ended in 2022, after periods of intermittent involvement and public disputes, including custody-related issues.
Momodu said she eventually found the strength to reclaim her narrative and discovered that other women had endured similar experiences of judgment and isolation.
Her appearance at the UNGA side events forms part of her broader advocacy work focused on the wellbeing of women and children through her Precious Jewels Foundation, alongside her fashion and beauty brand and previous appearance on The Real Housewives of Lagos.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened earlier this month, with its high-level General Debate running from September 22 to 28 at UN headquarters. Momodu had earlier announced her participation as a delegate during the high-level period.
Her remarks have drawn widespread attention online, highlighting ongoing conversations about societal expectations placed on women from religious backgrounds in Nigeria and the lasting impact of public scrutiny on personal stories.
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