Mercy Aigbe Opens Up: “Single Motherhood is Not for the Fainthearted”
Mercy Aigbe didn’t hold back when she spoke about her experience raising children on her own. In a recent appearance on Real Talk with Kike, the Nollywood star shared how deeply challenging single motherhood has been, calling it “draining” and admitting it’s something she wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“It’s not easy being both mum and dad,” she said, with a visible mix of emotion and reflection. Mercy described those years as tough, filled with silent battles and heavy responsibilities. “Shout out to every single mum out there—you’re the real MVPs.”
The actress also revealed how much pressure she put on herself to “get it right” with her kids. Having already been through heartbreak, she said she felt she couldn’t afford to mess up as a parent too.
“I was so afraid of failing them. I’d already felt like a failure in my personal life, and I didn’t want to add motherhood to that list,” she said. Mercy confessed to being extra hard on her children, trying to steer them away from mistakes—even though she now realizes that stumbling is part of growing.
“I just didn’t want anyone to look at my kids and say, ‘Of course, what do you expect? A single mum raised them.’ That used to haunt me.”
She admitted to constantly praying for her children, especially her daughter Michelle, to find lasting love and avoid going through the same struggles she did.
“Life doesn’t always play out the way we plan. Many of us never imagined raising kids alone, but here we are—doing our best, showing up every day, even when it feels impossible.”
Through all the financial, emotional, and mental weight, Mercy says one thing is clear: single mothers carry a strength that often goes unseen—and uncelebrated.