The topic of how young Nigerians navigate romantic relationships with their earnings is a minefield of hot takes. In Love Currency, we get into what relationships across income brackets look like in different cities.
Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click here.
How long have you been with your partner?
I met my wife, Sola, through a family friend in 2022, and we got married a year later. October 2026 will make it our third year of marriage.
Tell me more about how you met
I had been single for about three years and was ready to try another relationship that would hopefully lead to marriage. But most of the ladies I met weren’t serious. Once I talked to them for a while and expressed interest, they would start asking me for money. I sell and repair ACs; I don’t have money like that.
I was tired of the constant billing, but I also wanted to find a good woman. So, I started to tell family and friends that I was looking for a wife. A close family friend connected me with Sola. At first, I didn’t consider her as an option, but she turned out to be an understanding and caring woman.
Why didn’t you consider her?
She had a two-year-old daughter. It’s not that I didn’t like her because she was a single mother; I just thought her child was young. I was worried that she was still involved with her child’s father or had to talk to him. I didn’t want to be with someone who had another man in her life.
However, my family friend assured me that the child’s father had abandoned them in Nigeria and married someone else in another country. That meant they wouldn’t be seeing each other physically, and he wouldn’t be calling her every time either.
I started getting to know Sola better. We connected, and I liked her character. She didn’t bill me like other women. In fact, she cooked and served me the first day I went to her house. We weren’t even dating then. It showed me that she was really mature and wouldn’t need a man to give her money before showing him respect and care.
Interesting. What was Sola’s financial situation like when you got together?
She taught at a school — she still does — and also had a hairdressing salon in front of her family’s house. I don’t really know how much she was making, but she lived alone and was comfortable. It was the first time I dated a financially independent woman. She even helped me with small business loans a few times. I always paid her back, sha.
She had to let go of her salon when we got married in 2023. Her family’s house is quite far from where we live, so it doesn’t make sense to travel all that distance for a salon. We haven’t been able to raise money to get a better salon close to us, so she’s been running home services after school and on the weekends.
Also, my wife’s child started living with us a year ago. It’s not easy to manage her work at the school and two children (we had a baby in 2024). Now imagine adding the stress of a salon and apprentices. It was easier when the eldest child was with Sola’s parents.
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Do you mean your stepdaughter didn’t always live with you both?
No, she didn’t. She lived with her grandparents. Even when Sola and I were dating, the child didn’t live with her. I honestly thought we’d continue with that arrangement after marriage.
However, Sola’s mum had a stroke last year and couldn’t take care of the child anymore. I suggested sending her to stay with Sola’s sister, but Sola refused. It almost caused a big fight, but I had to let the issue go to let peace reign.
Why were you against the idea?
We never discussed the child living with us. It was like being forced into a financial responsibility I hadn’t prepared for. Imagine starting a marriage with children almost immediately. My expenses have doubled. I can’t drop money for food and say it’s only for one child na, abi?
The child also recently started school, and Sola begged me to contribute to the school fees. That was an extra ₦80k I hadn’t planned for. I can’t tell her to go and meet the child’s father because people will say, “Didn’t you know she was a single mother before you married her?” So, I have to accept that I’ll have to financially provide for the child one way or another, even if I don’t particularly like it.
It’s what Yorubas call “Abẹ́lẹ́jayan án”— someone who engages in an unprofitable venture. No matter how much I spend on the child, she’ll still wake up one day and go look for her real father.
That’s an interesting way to look at it. Does your wife know about your concerns?
I believe she knows the child isn’t my primary responsibility, so she doesn’t always come to me with her needs. It’s just when she needs help that she outrightly asks. And of course, as a woman, she knows how to get money from me when she really needs it. For instance, I can’t just ignore her complaints about the child being sick. I’ll have to step in if I have money.
How do you both run your home’s finances?
We don’t really discuss it; we just know what the other has to do to contribute to the expenses. I pay ₦450k in rent for our mini flat, pay for electricity, and drop ₦10k every week for food. If the food money isn’t enough, she adds money.
She also handles the children’s needs and small things around the house. Sometimes when I’m broke, Sola loans me money, and I pay her back when I make money. We know how to manage ourselves.
Do you have a budget for relationship expenses, like dates and gifts?
No. We don’t spend money on unnecessary things. If she sees something she likes and needs, she tells me, and if I have money, I’ll give it to her. If I don’t, we leave it. I’m not a birthday person like that, so I don’t need gifts. If she wants to make me happy, she knows she just needs to cook my favourite meal and let me rest.
Do you both have financial safety nets?
I put ₦30k into a monthly ajo contribution, so I only need to add a little money to it and pay rent. Sola knows how to manage money, so whenever I have excess cash, I give it to her to keep for me. Most of the time, we still use whatever I keep with her to handle household needs or family emergencies.
What’s your ideal financial future as a couple?
I hope to be a major electronics supplier in the future. At least, if I make enough money to do business, we’ll be able to live a better life and enjoy good things. Sola is also always talking about building her own school someday. So, that’ll be good too.
Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click here.
*Names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.
Every week, Zikoko seeks to understand how people move the Naira in and out of their lives. Some stories will be struggle-ish, others will be bougie. All the time, it’ll be revealing.
Saving doesn’t stop life from happening. When things come up, Carbon doesn’t force you to choose between progress and survival. Your locked savings keep growing, and you can use it as collateral to access a loan at just 3% interest. It’s saving, built different so you can move different. Create a savings plan here.
When did you first realise the importance of money?
I understood the concept of exchange before actually handling money. In primary school, I loved drawing cartoon characters like Ben 10 and Naruto, and I was good at it.
I drew these characters on pieces of paper torn from my notebook. My mum, who was a headmistress, wasn’t particularly impressed that I tore my notebooks to draw. So, as a workaround, I drew for classmates in exchange for extra sheets of paper. I was being paid, just not with money.
Watching how hard my mum worked also made me think about the importance of money.
Tell me more
My mum was a single mum of two. My dad died pretty early; I don’t even remember much about him. So, it was up to my mum to provide for us. We weren’t financially stable, but I knew my mum worked hard to keep food on the table. We couldn’t always afford nice things, but she did her best to ensure we had the basics.
What was the first thing you did to earn money?
Still my drawing and art talent. I went to a secondary school attended by rich kids, and one day, when I was in JSS 2, a classmate approached me. He’d heard I could draw and needed help with his assignment. He paid me ₦200, which was enough for two doughnuts and a bottle of Coke. It was good money.
After that, I had a relatively steady stream of people paying me at least ₦150 to do their assignments. I stopped in JSS 3 when a teacher noticed my drawing style in other students’ assignments and warned me not to do it anymore.
I didn’t do anything else for money until uni. I entered uni in 2017 and was on a ₦10k/month allowance from my mum, which only covered food and transport, nothing extra. Even then, ₦10k didn’t last me until the end of the month. In the second semester, my uncle gave me a laptop, and I decided to learn design.
How did you go about this?
I knew a graphic designer from church, and with my mum’s consent, I spent my semester break learning CorelDRAW at his studio. It helped me learn how to digitally recreate the images I drew on paper. I also assisted the graphic designer with t-shirt prints, banner designs and the like.
I learnt from him for two months until school resumed. In school, I kept designing and started posting my work on my WhatsApp status. Then a friend reached out one day, asking if I designed logos. I said “yes,” and she introduced me to a client.
I can’t forget that logo. It was for a finance-based business, and the logo featured a house with a chimney. Now that I think about it, we don’t have chimneys in Nigeria, so that was completely unnecessary.
I’m screaming. How much did you make from that first gig?
₦2500. It was the biggest amount I could think of. Subsequently, I started receiving logo requests from fellow students who ran small businesses. I didn’t have a flat rate. Students don’t have money, and no one would’ve paid ₦2500.
So, I charged students between ₦1k and ₦1500 for logos and banners. Most of the time, I was only making an extra ₦3k or ₦4k a month, but it felt nice to add that to my pocket money.
This went on until COVID came. While people complained about being bored, all I did was eat, sleep and watch design tutorials. I was designing every single day. Before the school shutdown, I’d begun moving with a student club of developers and tech guys. I could tell these guys had more money than the average student, and I figured I could be like that if I improved my craft. The lockdown gave me the opportunity to fine-tune my skills.
Some time after the lockdown was lifted, I posted a test project I’d designed on Twitter. A marketing agency reached out to me and told me they liked my work. Then, they asked if I was open to a full-time role.
That’s how they offered me a job with a ₦60k/month salary. I was so excited that I called my mum immediately. Unfortunately, my excitement was short-lived.
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Uh oh. What happened?
They fired me after three months. I had a difficult time transitioning from freelancing to paid employment. I’m a perfectionist, and I take time because I need everything to look good. However, companies have deadlines, and after I delayed a few tasks, the agency ghosted me. They didn’t even give me clear communication; they just stopped paying my salary and didn’t respond to my questions. I got the message.
I was sad because I liked the job, but the experience helped me realise I wasn’t as good as I thought. There had been callbacks on a number of my designs, and it was pretty clear I still had some learning to do.
I lost the job in December 2020, and around the same time, a friend introduced me to someone who had opened a co-working space. The founder told me he needed a designer to create marketing materials, but didn’t have the money to pay. However, I would get free access to the co-working space (plus the WiFi) as long as I worked with him.
Did you accept?
I did. It would give me the opportunity to work on my craft and potentially meet new people. This arrangement lasted two years, and during that time, the founder referred me to multiple clients. So, it was a win-win.
Beyond the referrals, I was getting gigs from various sources. One time, I worked with a guy who had Fiverr and Upwork accounts and would outsource gigs to me. In 2021, I got my first foreign client on Twitter, who paid me $82 for a couple of gigs. He returned a few more times.
Throughout 2021, my monthly income from design ranged between ₦30k – ₦90k. It wasn’t stable, but I earned something every month.
2022 came with an eight-month ASUU strike and new opportunities. I landed a four-month internship at a design agency and participated in branding projects and training classes. They paid me a ₦100k/month stipend.
The experience and exposure I got from the internship gave me the morale to return to the founder of the co-working space to tell him I needed to start getting paid.
Get it! What did he say?
He couldn’t create a budget for me at the workspace, so he transferred me to a fintech company that he was a part of. There, I got hired as a brand and product designer. My salary started at ₦80k/month, then jumped to ₦120k after the three-month probation. This was in 2023.
I was in 400 level at this point, juggling the fintech job, actively freelancing and taking occasional gigs from the design agency I interned at. The least amount I earned in a month was my ₦120k salary. With my other hustles, I was comfortably netting ₦200k – ₦500k in some months.
Not bad for a student. What were your spending habits like?
Besides spending on the basic necessities, I was saving to buy a MacBook. In the design community, that laptop is like a badge of honour. It took me a full year to save over ₦1m to buy it.
In 2024, I left the fintech because I was juggling bigger things — Fiverr. I had opened an account in January because a friend was opening his, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to join him. That turned out to be the best decision I’ve made for my freelance journey.
I made $120 in the first month I joined Fiverr. By March, Fiverr and a few other freelance projects brought me ₦1.5m. The subsequent months were at least ₦700k. I also got another full-time role at a creative agency at some point in the year. They paid me ₦200k/month.
So, I was earning from two full-time jobs and a profitable freelance hustle. To put it simply, I was balling.
Love to see it
The extra income made it easy for me to start thinking about investments. I began thinking of a future where I could afford not to work, and I knew investments could get me there. So, I started sending any spare cash to a real estate plan on an investment app.
After leaving the fintech in November 2024, I took another part-time job with a returning UK-based client. He paid me $1000/month to work 40 hours a week. So, again, I was working two jobs and managing my freelancing business.
Wasn’t that a lot to juggle? Also, you haven’t mentioned school in a while.
See, greed is a very fascinating thing. I tried not to take on heavy freelance gigs, but I was still practically doing three different things at once. Who says no to money?
As for school, I dropped out in my final year. I wasn’t doing very well, and the course wasn’t what I wanted to do. I even got an extra year. I just couldn’t engage with school anymore, so I finally quit in 2025.
I’m curious, how did your mum react to that?
I kept it from her until I couldn’t anymore. My answers to her “What’s happening at school?” got sloppier, and I had to come clean. My mum doesn’t cry. I can count the number of times I’ve seen her cry. But the day I told her I dropped out, she completely broke down.
The thing is, my mum is an academic. She believes you need to go to school to get a good job and have a good life. She couldn’t believe I’d make such a decision after all her sacrifices. The issue shook our relationship, and it’s still shaky to this day. She doesn’t talk to me much anymore. I try to call her, but our conversations are always awkward.
Do you think it was worth it to drop out so close to the finish line, though?
I don’t think staying around would’ve changed anything. I never cared for classes, and even as a final-year student, I still couldn’t answer basic questions about my course.
Besides, people around me were graduating and doing totally different things. You’d see someone who graduated with a nursing degree working as a product manager. Life isn’t black and white. If I can’t give my time to school, I might as well give it to design and build a stronger career.
It also helped that I was doing really well financially. I left the creative agency in 2025 to focus on the UK job and Fiverr. My monthly income was around $2000, which is almost ₦3m in naira. I was financially responsible for myself. I moved into a new apartment, set up a small workstation, bought an inverter to solve power issues and Starlink to avoid network wahala. The whole thing cost me about ₦3m, but it was definitely worth it for my productivity.
What does your monthly income look like these days?
I’m still at the $2k mark, but this is entirely from the UK job (I got a raise in 2024). My Fiverr account was blocked in October, I suspect, due to a bad review left by a client. I haven’t been able to gain access since then.
The experience has driven me to put more effort into growing my personal brand, in case I lose another source of income. I still get occasional freelance gigs, but it’s not at the same level as I had with Fiverr.
In addition to building my personal brand, I’m very intentional about my investments. I live on 25% – 30% of my income; the rest goes into investments. A short-term goal I have, which I call my 401 (k), is to get to the point where my investments pay me at least ₦1m every month.
The investment app I use has a feature that gives users 25% of their total investment monthly if they have more than ₦5m in their accounts. I estimate I’ll need ₦40m in the account to get ₦1m monthly, and I plan to get there in 5 years.
My long-term goal is to save up to $1m or at least ₦1bn. If I invest that in different channels and earn around $15k monthly, I’ll never need to work again.
Those are big dreams. Let’s talk about the life your income affords you right now
The life I live doesn’t match my income at all. I’m very frugal. Last year, I earned ₦40m in income and ₦2m in investment dividends. Yet, I live in a tiny self-contained apartment. I’m a big believer in staying as small as possible for as long as possible.
I spend 30% of my income now, and that’s only because of the new tax laws. I don’t want the government taxing me too much, so I registered an LLC early this year and now “pay” myself a ₦600k monthly salary. The rest of the money stays in investments. Even from that ₦600k, my usual monthly expense is just about ₦350k. The rest still goes to investments and other minor expenses. I live way below my means. I have a budget for everything.
Walk me through what your monthly budget looks like
How about your investment portfolio?
I have ₦1.2m in my emergency fund. I started investing in stocks in 2025, and currently have ₦8.6m there. Then another ₦20.4m in my real estate investment account — that’s the one I’m trying to raise to ₦40m.
I also have another ₦360k in a separate account specifically for taxes. I calculate tax for whatever I earn and send it there, so I’m not surprised when the government starts asking for it. In total, my net worth is around ₦35m, which is still very far from ₦1bn.
How would you describe your relationship with money?
I’m very diligent with money. I’m diligent about how I make it, and for the past year, I’ve been diligent about paying myself first by investing in my future goals. One thing I’m still trying to learn is staying with my budget.
Sometimes, my actual monthly expenses reach ₦450k. Clearly, I still have some work to do with watching out for the small things that balloon into big expenses. Buying more protein shakes at the gym or spending a bit more on transport once or twice don’t sound like much, but those things that add up.
Is there an ideal amount of money you think you should be earning?
For my perfect life, my dream income is $15k/month. However, I’m really happy with where I am. It’s a lot more than most people get. So I’m not complaining. I want more, as most people do, but I am also content. I’m not overspending, and I’m going slowly. Slow is good. Slow is fine.
Is there anything you want right now but can’t afford?
Maybe a relationship. I can afford it, to be honest, but I know love can be financial. I’m too frugal to spend on dates or anything like that right now.
How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?
9. I earn enough to create artificial scarcity. I earn almost ₦3m monthly but choose to live on just ₦600k. That’s an interesting place to be.
Curious, do you sometimes wish you’d completed school?
I have no regrets. Of course, there’s the issue of the certificate, but I’m open to the idea of having my own business one day, and I can always go to business school.
If you’re interested in talking about your Naira Life story, this is a good place to start.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Timilehin* (30) left Nigeria for the US with just a desire for better opportunities and no long-term plan. In this story, he shares how trading cryptocurrencies gave him the funds for his trip and how he ended up in the US Navy.
This model is AI-generated and not affiliated with the story in any way
Where do you currently live, and when did you leave Nigeria?
Currently, I live in Atlanta in the United States. I left Nigeria in 2021.
What inspired you to leave?
A friend I went to school with inspired me, and two other things served as a trigger, or push, if you would. While we were in school, my friend always said we should find a way to leave Nigeria so we could do our master’s abroad. It stuck with me.
After we graduated, we couldn’t make that wish a reality because we couldn’t afford it and weren’t doing much. I personally couldn’t get help from the family front because we didn’t have the money: My dad was a teacher, so going to school on his salary had been a struggle. I did all sorts of jobs to make some cash, including satellite TV installations, which I took on during my National Youth Service (NYSC) year.
All the while, the idea of going abroad for my master’s had stuck with me. But the trigger for leaving was the astonishing lack of opportunities. Even as a graduate, most of us couldn’t secure jobs with our certificates. The EndSARS protests capped it all off. Seeing the government kill so many young people and deny it, made us want to get out. So when we got the opportunity to do our master’s in the US, we took it. I wasn’t married and had no children or strong attachments other than my immediate family, so it was not a difficult decision.
How did you afford the move?
Around 2018 to 2019, crypto started blowing up. Some friends and I got into cryptocurrency, buying and selling Bitcoin and doing Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs). We started getting a little money, and it was that money we used to process our exams like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), pay application fees, and fund the move abroad.
The money was really useful because, for an average Nigerian, it can be difficult to afford application fees, which can be in the hundreds of dollars. For someone struggling to eat, it’s a lot to spend on what is basically trial and error, because the schools you apply to may not admit you.
What was it like when you arrived in the US?
It wasn’t the smoothest experience. I had to spend my first days in a hotel, and it was so expensive; I was worried I was going to end up spending all the money I’d come with. Also, there were a lot of culture shocks.
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What were some of these shocks?
First was the food, which was very different from what I was used to in Nigeria. They also have too many options, making it difficult to figure out their food.
Let’s say you try to get a burger. You would expect it to be straightforward. But you’ll say you want a burger and they’ll ask you something like if you want cheese. Okay, you tell them to add the cheese, then they’ll ask you what type. I didn’t even know there were different types of cheese back then. It just goes on like that, answering so many questions before you get your food.
Another thing is just how large the US is. It feels like most places are not close by. Everything is at least thirty minutes from where you are. Having a car is not a luxury; it’s just a necessity if you want to get anywhere. I got a bicycle that I used to ride around. But I guess I got too comfortable, and I wouldn’t lock it when I left it outside. One time, I travelled, and when I came back, it had been stolen. I found it surprising because it wasn’t even an expensive one. It cost about $70, so I didn’t expect it to be stolen.
Another shock was the school culture. All the professors are completely fine with you calling them by just their first names.
Then there’s the attitude towards hosting. In Nigeria, when a birthday celebrant invites people to a restaurant, they’ll handle the bill, but here, everyone is expected to pay for themselves.
What was the settling-in process like socially?
I don’t go out a lot. I didn’t have much of a social life even in Nigeria, so I have little to compare it with. But in my daily interactions with Americans, I found that most of them think I am Black American when they first meet me, until I tell them I’m Nigerian. They find it difficult to pronounce my name, so I just tell them my name is Tim or Timmy. That’s easier for them.
How did you find education in the US compared to Nigeria?
The volume of assignments is a lot. You might do only three courses, but the amount of work, presentations, and assignments is massive. It is harder than in Nigeria, but eventually, I figured it out.
What is your support system like in the US?
I don’t really miss Nigeria in terms of friendships or my support system because most of my friends are here. My brother is here too. He joined me a year after I arrived in 2022. I also came along with many of my friends, and many of my classmates from the university in Nigeria are here now. I have almost all my support system here—people I’ve known for about twelve years now. The only person I have left in Nigeria who would make me come around to visit is my mum.
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Have you visited Nigeria since you left?
No, I haven’t been back. I intend to go, but I haven’t found the time with the way my work is structured. Some of my friends intend to go for two months, but I feel I’d probably stay only for a week or two if I go, and then it feels like a waste of money for such a short trip.
Do you see the US as a long-term plan, or do you intend to return to Nigeria?
I am very conflicted about that. I want to go back, but then I see what is happening in Nigeria, and I am discouraged. You see the reports online of things like kidnappings or trucks falling on people. These people didn’t even do anything wrong. It’s just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There’s nothing they could have done differently that would have taken them out of that scenario.
So it makes me think: “Do I want to just leave my life to chance in a place where the chances are not good?” It feels like in Nigeria, everything is just set up to go the wrong way. I’m hesitant to leave the US, which has a system that works, for one that doesn’t work. But I’m not ruling out the possibility of a return.
Do you like the city you live in?
Yes. Atlanta is actually my favourite city. There is a large Black community here. I’ve briefly stayed in Houston, which feels exactly like you are in Nigeria because of the weather and the amount of Nigerian food, but Atlanta is a perfect blend of Nigeria and America. My least favourite was Chicago because it is extremely cold. That’s where I did my training for the Navy, and learning to swim in the Chicago cold was one of my worst experiences here.
You’re in the US Navy?
Yes. I joined the Navy last year. The process was fun at times, but also a little depressing. I didn’t know how to swim very well when I joined. I struggled to learn how to swim in the cold, which is why I said I don’t like Chicago. At the end of the day, I survived and passed.
What made you choose to join the Navy?
Well, it’s not like how it is in Nigeria. Here, joining the military is very encouraged; you get lots of benefits like tuition waivers and free education for your children. You can also get access to no-interest loans. And, if you are not a citizen, you become eligible for citizenship.
My brother joined the US Army first. But I chose the Navy because I saw it as slightly less physical than the Army.
Interesting. So you’re a US citizen now?
Yes, I am.
Did you have any longer-term plans when you left Nigeria for the US?
No, I didn’t really have a plan. It was just a case of getting in and figuring out how to go about it once I arrived. We got here and then looked for opportunities to change our status. But now, career-wise, I hope to just keep growing and hopefully, down the line, run a business that’ll allow me to retire.
There has been a lot of anti-immigrant talk in the US recently. Does that make you uncomfortable?
Not really. People have a right to vote, and they voted for whoever is in power. Nothing happening right now is a surprise because this was basically the manifesto of the current administration. It’s what they campaigned on. I am not affected because I am already a citizen. But I’ll just say that we are getting what was voted for.
Have you felt discriminated against due to your race or nationality?
I’ll give you a recent example. I was bringing up my new 75-inch TV in the elevator, and a white man came in. He saw me with the TV and asked why I was delivering it there. He thought I was the delivery man.
Things like that happen a lot. When people here see a Black person in certain situations, they make silly assumptions like that. If they see you in an expensive car, they might assume you’re just the driver.
I told the man the TV was mine and I didn’t let it affect me personally, but I see how it could be disappointing for others who experience things like that.
What has been your worst experience in the US?
My worst experience was in Chicago when I was struggling to pass my swim qualification for the Navy. Others had graduated, and I was left behind, feeling stuck. It made me start wondering why I even came.
Other than that, the US has provided me with opportunities I never would have thought of. It is a level playing ground. The son of nobody can become somebody here.
What has been your best experience?
I’ve had some really good ones. Graduating from school, getting a job, and becoming a US citizen have been really good experiences. Generally, it’s a really great feeling doing so well for myself and seeing that all my friends are doing well too.
On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you in the US?
I’ll say nine out of ten. I’m not saying ten because nothing is ever perfect.
Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT).
If you’ve ever felt like a failure, just remember, Nigeria has a whole ministry dedicated to reducing poverty. Since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction was created in 2019, another 60 million Nigerians have dropped below the poverty line.
To make matters worse, economic experts say poverty levels will only get worse. We don’t expect much from government bodies. The bar is already on the floor. But this Ministry is spectacularly failing in its mandate, and it leaves us wondering: who’s to blame?
Born again… and again… and again…
The Ministry didn’t always go by its current name. When President Muhammadu Buhari created it in August 2019, it was called the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Then in 2023, President Bola Tinubu renamed it the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. By 2024, he changed it again to what we now know as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Numbers go up… and only up
The name changes haven’t helped. Whether it’s supposed to alleviate or reduce poverty, the Ministry is doing neither.
And things are not looking brighter. In January 2026, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) predicted 141 million Nigerians—about 62% of the population—would be poor this year. That’s another 2 million people about to drop below the poverty line.
Best in mathematics
Whenever faced with numbers that show they’re failing, Tinubu’s administration doesn’t fix up. Instead, they say the maths must be wrong.
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Public Communication
So when the World Bank dropped the 139 million figure, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, dismissed it as “unrealistic.”
The administration argued that the World Bank’s benchmark of anyone living on less than $2.15 a day doesn’t match Nigeria’s reality. Basically, the government wants global experts to lower their expectations so our numbers look better.
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Musical chairs at the poverty ministry
L-R: Sadiya Umar Farouq, Muhammadu Buhari
When Buhari created the ministry in 2019, he appointed Sadiya Umar Farouq as minister. She held the role until the end of his administration in 2023. Since Tinubu became president, though, it’s been a revolving door.
August 2023: Betta Edu became minister.
January 2024: Less than five months later, Edu was suspended over a ₦585 million corruption case.
January–October 2024: The office stayed empty for more than eight months.
October 2024: Nentawe Yilwatda took over as minister.
November 2024: Yusuf Tanko Sununu was moved from the Ministry of Education to become Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, assisting Yilwatda.
July 2025: Nine months later, Yilwatda left to become APC national chairman.
July–November 2025: Sununu worked solo for about four months.
November 2025: Bernard Mohammed Doro was sworn in as minister.
It’s been a rocky ride at the Ministry under Tinubu’s administration, with multiple name changes and even more changes in personnel. With ministers playing musical chairs, it’s no surprise the Ministry can’t pull off any coherent poverty alleviation scheme.
Sadiya
Sadiya Umar Farouq
Sadiya Umar Farouq may have held her position for all of Buhari’s second term, but that stability didn’t count for anything. As we said earlier, the poverty numbers jumped from 40.1% to 56.2% between 2019 and 2023. Then there’s the missing billions.
First through the door after Tinubu took office was Betta Edu. In August 2023, she was sworn in as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation at just 37 years old.
But her time was short-lived. Barely four months later, in January 2024, she came under fire after a letter surfaced showing she had asked the Accountant General to transfer ₦585 million meant for grants for vulnerable groups into a private account. Tinubu suspended her on January 8, and by October 2024, she was replaced by Nentawe Yilwatda.
Nentawe Yilwatda lasted a little longer than Edu before being elected National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July 2025, forcing him to quit his ministerial role.
As the numbers show, having two ministers didn’t help either.
After Yilwatda left to chair the APC, Sununu flew solo for a few months before Bernard Mohammed Doro came in as minister in November 2025. The two have since worked together as a less-than-dynamic duo.
Thou shalt not live by rice alone
Bernard Doro has already hit the ground running in the only way Nigerian politicians know: he’s been out sharing rice.
Officially, office furniture are more important than you
A quick glance at the 2026 budget shows where Doro and Sununu’s priorities lie—and it’s not in reducing poverty.
In the Ministry’s 2026 budget, it plans to spend ₦112 million on office furniture and fittings. Then another ₦113 million on office machines and equipment. Meanwhile, only ₦71 million has been set aside for essential foods in case of emergency outbreaks that may lead to malnutrition in the country. That’s almost four times less than the ₦225 million they’re spending to make their offices look nice.
To fully understand the ridiculousness of the situation, you’d have to take a look at the Global Hunger Index, which ranks Nigeria 115 out of 123 countries. Twenty per cent of the population is undernourished, and almost 34% of children under five suffer stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition. Whatever emergency the ministry is waiting for, we’re already living it.
Millions of Nigerians are falling into poverty every year, and children are literally starving to death. But we can only hope Bernard Doro and Tanko Sununu—or whoever is next through the revolving door—enjoy the luxury office furniture.
Still, there’s something poetic about the malfunctioning “Facts and Statistics” tracker on the Ministry’s site. The irony is almost too perfect.
A Ministry of zero impact, with a website that reflects exactly that.
Screenshot of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Website captured March 9, 2026
What can you do about this?
Use whatever platform you have, including social media, to demand accountability from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Call your representatives at the National Assembly (NASS). Lawmakers have to sign off on these budgets, and you can make sure money goes where you know it’s best needed through them. To find the contact information of the lawmaker representing your constituency at NASS, click here.
Ministers are appointees, but they’re appointed by the executive you voted for. So make better choices during elections. Not voting at all is also a choice — and it’s the wrong one.
We want to hear about your personal experiences that reflect how politics or public systems affect daily life in Nigeria. Share your story with us here—we’d love to hear from you!
Zikoko’s HERtitude is back this April 2026. Grab your tickets here.
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Lagos, Nigeria — Global smart device brand OPPO has partnered with Nigerian reality TV star and entrepreneur Mercy Eke to spotlight the newly launched OPPO Reno15 Series, a smartphone designed for modern creators, lifestyle enthusiasts and digital storytellers.
Renowned for her bold personality, glamorous lifestyle and strong digital influence, Mercy Eke embodies the spirit of the Reno series — confident, stylish and always ahead of the curve. Through this collaboration, she showcases how the OPPO Reno15 Series seamlessly blends elegant design with powerful technology, making it the ideal smartphone for capturing life moments in stunning detail.
The Reno15 Series delivers an elevated smartphone experience with advanced camera capabilities, sleek aesthetics, and smooth performance. Built for today’s content-driven generation, the device empowers users to shoot vibrant photos, create engaging videos, and share their stories effortlessly.
Speaking on the collaboration, Mercy Eke expressed excitement about partnering with the brand:
“I love technology that fits my lifestyle, and the Reno15 does exactly that. It’s stylish, powerful, and perfect for capturing my best moments and creating content for my fans.”
The partnership reflects OPPO’s continued commitment to empowering the next generation of creators and innovators across Nigeria by combining cutting-edge technology with lifestyle, fashion and culture.
With Mercy Eke leading the conversation, the launch of the OPPO Reno15 Series represents a new era where technology meets creativity, confidence and everyday self-expression.
The OPPO Reno15 Series is now available nationwide through authorized OPPO retail stores and partner outlets.
Oluchi*(26) and Nonso* (28) first crossed paths at a party, where a moment of kindness brought them together. But as their relationship grew, so did the cracks between them.
In this story, they share how their relationship unfolded and why it eventually fell apart.
Oluchi: I met Nonso* in September 2023 at a party our mutual friend organised. The last thing on my mind that night was meeting someone. I’d only gone out to have a good time.
At some point during the party, I decided to relax and ended up overdoing it with the drinks.
Nonso: “Overdoing it” is putting it lightly. She threw up everywhere.
I knew the house well, and everyone else was busy with the party, so I stepped in to help. I took her to the bathroom and cleaned her up like any decent guy would do.
Oluchi: I was extremely embarrassed and kept apologising, but he stayed calm about it. He told me to lie down and even brought me water.
Kindness always gets my attention, and in that moment, I suddenly realised how attractive he was. I’d noticed him earlier at the party, but helping me like that made him stand out even more.
Nonso: I thought she was cute, but I didn’t think we’d interact beyond that moment.
But the next morning, she came over to thank me before she left. We also exchanged contacts and started talking from there.
Oluchi: From that day, I imagined the possibilities. I hadn’t dated in a while, and Nonso felt like the one. He checked a lot of boxes for me: confident, attractive, and easy to talk to. I fell for him very quickly.
But the first thing that put me off was having our first date at his house.
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Nonso: Actually, that happened because she was in the neighbourhood, and my place wasn’t far from where she was. It wasn’t planned.
We made out a bit, and soon after, she started talking about wanting a relationship. I was caught off guard.
Oluchi: I made it clear I wasn’t interested in casual dating. I didn’t want anyone wasting my time.
When he eventually organised a proper dinner and asked me to be his girlfriend, I was really happy. It felt like things were finally falling into place.
Nonso: To be honest, I didn’t want a relationship that early. We’d only known each other for about two months. But I liked her, and since she made it very clear that was what she wanted, I decided to give it a shot.
Oluchi: We had our good days, until I noticed how he flirted with other women. That was a major red flag.
Whenever we went out, he was always charming and overly friendly with girls. It felt disrespectful, especially when I was right there.
Nonso: I wouldn’t call it flirting. I’m just naturally friendly, and it comes from a deeper place.
Growing up, I struggled with confidence. I was overweight and didn’t have many friends. Now that I look better and people approach me more, shutting them down feels difficult.
But Oluchi always saw my friendliness as something more, and it caused many arguments.
Oluchi: During one of our dates, he made us join two girls in their game and even exchanged numbers with them right in front of me. Who does that?
That moment made me really uncomfortable with his behaviour, so I checked his phone.
Nonso: That was an invasion of my privacy.
She also wasn’t completely innocent. There were times she’d mention guys trying to talk to her or buying things for her, and I never made an issue out of it.
Of course, she didn’t find anything inappropriate because I’d been honest with her.
Oluchi: I mentioned those things to show him how it felt. The difference is that I never crossed the line. He was talking to too many women.
And I don’t regret suspecting him. Months later, he admitted that he’d cheated on me.
Nonso: By that point, our relationship had already grown tense.
She wanted to control everything about me, from my smoking to how I socialised. I started to feel caged, and our fights became more frequent.
We had a big fight around her NYSC POP. She expected me to show up with flowers and gifts, but I didn’t. Instead, I sent her money to get whatever she wanted. She was furious.
What frustrated me was that she never clearly said what she wanted. She expected me to know, like a psychic. When I didn’t, she overreacted.
During one of those periods when we were barely speaking, I went out with friends and made out with someone else.
It wasn’t planned, and I regretted it. I told her about it almost immediately.
Oluchi: He says guilt made him confess, but the truth is that the girl had already told a mutual friend. He knew I was going to find out. I was devastated when he admitted it. But I still stayed.
That was a big mistake. Months later, I discovered he’d cheated again. This time with his ex.
He didn’t tell me immediately. I only found out during a huge argument when we were already close to breaking up.
Nonso: It was more complicated than that. My ex and I had broken up because of distance. When she came back to visit, old attractions resurfaced. It only happened once. I didn’t tell Oluchi immediately because I knew it would hurt her.
Eventually, we had our biggest argument. She called me a cheater and said she was done. I admitted everything, and she walked out. After that, she blocked me everywhere.
Oluchi: We dated for over a year, and I felt like I was constantly defending the relationship and trying to force him to act like he actually wanted to be with me. When I finally walked away, it was for my peace of mind.
Nonso: I respected her decision when she blocked me. About five months later, she agreed to speak to me again through our mutual friend. By then, she’d already started seeing someone else.
Oluchi: I expected him to put in more effort to win me back, but when he didn’t, I realised I had to move on. I wasn’t going to sit around waiting for him. But we eventually agreed to stay friends.
Nonso: I still think she’s a great person and can be a positive influence. We’re probably better off as friends, but who knows what the future holds?
Oluchi: For me, that chapter is closed. But I wish him well.
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Many Nigerian albums are shit on for the mindless nature of their composition, but some albums do more than just provide a soundtrack; they build entire worlds. These albums transcend the standard collection of singles, telling stories, painting worlds, and guiding listeners through cinematic journeys.
From M.I Abaga’s conceptual rap projects to Burna Boy’s globe-spanning African Giant, these albums are more than music; they are movies you can listen to.
10. Gbagada Express — BOJ (2022)
BOJ, one of the architects of the Nigerian alté movement, takes listeners on a journey that reflects on life in Lagos, especially the famous Gbagada axis known for its social life, hustle and cultural syncretism. While not a traditional concept movie album, its brilliant fusion of Afro‑pop, alté, and introspective and fun lyricism evokes a day‑in‑the‑life arc of a person living on Lagos Mainland.
9. A Study on Self-Worth: Yxng Dxznl — M.I Abaga (2018)
Departing from the outward-looking lens of The Chairman and The Rendezvous, this album is a psychological event that invites the listener into M.I’s private therapy sessions. The album uses lengthy, instructional song titles and recurring snippets of a dialogue between M.I and his therapist to navigate themes of depression, ego, and the industry’s toxic expectations.
It’s a deeply immersive character study that uses distorted vocals and moody production to represent the internal clutter of an artist struggling to find himself amidst the noise of fame.
8. Palmwine Express — Show Dem Camp (2019)
Palmwine Express, released in 2019 and produced primarily by Spax, shifts Show Dem Camp’s narrative focus from hard political rap to an immersive, mood‑driven exploration of palm‑wine music’s roots. This project uses an airborne concept, complete with flight announcements, to transport the listener into a world of highlife-infused jams and romantic subplots. Looking at the style that the album takes in its narrative arc, it serves as a travelogue or a road movie centred on the Detty December culture and dating scene in Lagos.
7. African Giant — Burna Boy (2019)
Burna Boy’s African Giant is a mix of personal and socio-political themes that make music with a lens on the Nigerian experience. The album is structured around the transition from personal struggle to global dominance, famously sparked by a climax in his real-life narrative: his outburst over the font size of his name on a Coachella poster, which he used as the catalyst for the album’s title and theme.
African Giant uses skits and samples to ground its message, most notably the 67-second inclusion of a documentary clip in “Another Story” that narrates the commercial origins of Nigeria as a British business deal. By closing the album with “Spiritual,” featuring his mother’s viral BET Awards acceptance speech where she reminds the world that “you were African before anything else,” Burna Boy makes a statement that solidifies the album as a monumental piece of Pan-African storytelling.
6. Jagz Nation Vol. 2: Royal Niger Company — Jesse Jagz (2013)
Jesse Jagz’s Royal Niger Company is an avant-garde epic that blends historical references with cinematic samples from films like Scarface and Johnny Mad Dog. Jesse acts as a philosopher-king, weaving together Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tupac and Fela Kuti samples to create a project that feels more like a cross‑continental historical movie than a standard rap album.
The inclusion of movie dialogue and conversational skits helps build the Jagz Nation mythos, and its orchestral Hip‑Hop and Rastafarian inflections frame Jagz as a renegade figure challenging the conventional boundaries of Nigerian sound and mainstream expectations.
5. Clone Wars Vol. IV: These Buhari Times — Show Dem Camp (2019)
This album was released by rap duo Show Dem Camp as part of their long‑running Clone Wars series. It pairs incisive, vivid lyrical vignettes with sharp commentary on the contemporary Nigerian experience under then‑President Buhari’s administration. This album uses a series of unfiltered lyrical reporting to paint a bleak yet true picture of the City of Excellence, AKA Lagos, and the broader national landscape.
In my opinion, it’s a political thriller that reflects the tension and resilience of the Nigerian people under economic and social pressure.
4. Moral Instruction — Falz (2019)
Moral Instruction sees Falz deploy his fourth studio project, released in January 2019, as a socio‑political audio film. It uses Nigerian Pidgin and samples of Fela Kuti to tell stories about police brutality, hypocrisy, greedy politicians, social media distraction, undermined youth potential and personal responsibility. The album’s cinematic concept was first established by the release of The Curriculum, an eight-minute short film that threads the tracks together through the metaphor of a dysfunctional school system.
The album’s production straddles Hip-Hop and Afrobeat, with tracks ranging from the tragic narrative of “Johnny” to the direct critique of “Talk.” Listening to the album as arranged feels like courtroom drama or episodes in a documentary on Nigeria’s systemic dysfunction.
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3. Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN — Cruel Santino (2022)
Cruel Santino’s sophomore album, Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN, is a sprawling, 21-track sci-fi epic that feels like a high-budget anime or a retro JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game) than a regular album. It’s divided into chapters, follows a complex narrative centred on a group of celestial beings known as the Subaru Boys and their journey through a conceptual universe.
Santino crafts this world using heavy world-building elements that include a Santinese (his self-created lingo) and a lore-heavy “Bible” released alongside the album to help listeners navigate the plot. The album’s commitment to its “Final Heaven” theme is unmistakable in its glitchy, futuristic production.
2. What Happens In Lagos — Ajebutter 22 (2017)
Ajebutter 22’s sophomore project is a meticulously curated “day in the life” story of a Lagosian millennial, narrated through the poetic interludes of Koromone Koye. The album tracks the protagonist’s journey from the morning commute at 4:00 AM to the social pressures of rich friends and the eventual status-seeking of “Lagos Big Boy.”
The album operates as a city-sized mirror that shows the irony and packaging of Lagos life with a dry wit and relatability that makes each song feel like scenes from a comedy-drama.
1. MI 2: The Movie — M.I Abaga (2010)
True to its title, M.I Abaga’s second studio album was conceived as a blockbuster film with a narrative structure, M.I act as the protagonist, and the featured artists are credited as co-stars. The project draws heavy inspiration from the Mission: Impossible franchise. We can see from how it utilises the intro, skit performances and action-packed tracks like “Action Film” to establish a thriller atmosphere.
But beyond the impressive structure and flair, it serves as a panoramic lens on Nigeria, from how it brings commercial hits like ”Number 1” with socially conscious songs like “Craze”, about corruption and the unrest in Jos. This album solidifies M.I’s reputation as a master of the concept album.
Forex trading in Nigeria has expanded rapidly over the past decade. While traders previously focused mainly on currency pairs such as EUR/USD or GBP/USD, many platforms now provide access to broader markets, including gold, silver, oil, cocoa, global indices, stock markets, and ETFs.
For Nigerian traders looking for the best forex trading platforms, choosing the right platform often depends on funding options, market access, and trading reliability.
This guide highlights some of the most widely used platforms available to Nigerian traders today.
Key Factors Nigerian Traders Should Consider Before Choosing a Forex Platform
Many traders now prefer platforms that combine forex trading with other global markets.
How Forex Trading Works
Forex trading means exchanging one currency for another.
If the first currency strengthens relative to the second, the price rises. If it weakens, the price falls.
Modern trading platforms also allow traders to access commodities, metals, global indices and stock markets alongside forex.
Best Forex Trading Platforms in Nigeria (2026)
1. Bitget: Universal Exchange (UEX) for Forex, Commodities, Metals and Global Stocks
One of the more recent developments in online trading is the integration of multiple financial markets within a single platform.
Bitget’s Universal Exchange (UEX) model combines both digital and traditional financial markets in one ecosystem.
Instead of maintaining separate accounts for forex brokers, commodity brokers, and stock trading platforms, traders can access different markets through a single interface.
Markets Available on Bitget
Why Multi-Market Trading Is Growing
For many Nigerian traders, diversification requires using multiple platforms. Platforms integrating several markets allow traders to move between different asset classes more efficiently.
For example:
Platforms that integrate these markets simplify the process.
2. Exness: One of Nigeria’s Most Recognised Forex Brokers
In Nigeria, traders increasingly diversify across multiple asset classes.
Instead of trading only currencies, traders now participate in:
Platforms integrating multiple markets, such as Bitget’s Universal Exchange (UEX), reflect this shift toward broader trading ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best forex trading platform in Nigeria?
Many Nigerian traders use platforms such as Bitget, Exness, IC Markets, Pepperstone, and FXTM, depending on whether they want forex-only trading or access to broader markets like commodities and stocks.
Can Nigerians trade gold online?
Yes. Many platforms allow Nigerians to trade gold (XAU) and silver (XAG) through CFD or derivative markets.
Which platform allows forex and stock trading together?
Some newer trading platforms integrate forex, commodities, indices, and stock markets within one ecosystem, allowing traders to access multiple asset classes.
Is forex trading legal in Nigeria?
Forex trading itself is not illegal in Nigeria, but traders should ensure they use reputable platforms and understand the risks involved.
GridLocked is a daily pop culture guessing game built for Nigerians. Every weekday by 9am, you’ll get six clues, sixty seconds, and an answer only a Nigerian would know.
Today’s GridLocked is a movie.
How many clues do you need to get it right? 👀
Share your result when done, but don’t spoil the answer for others. (Missed yesterday’s GridLocked? Play it here.)
10 March 2026
Guess The Movie01:00
Title
Guesses: 0
00:00
How To Play
The Goal: Guess the answer for the day before time runs out. (The answer could be a person, place, song, movie, or even slang.)
The Lock: You cannot type a guess until you have revealed at least one tile.
The Reveal: Tap any tile to reveal a clue. Every clue on the grid describes the answer for the day.
The Clock: You have 60 seconds to guess right. The timer starts the moment you flip your first tile. (You get multiple guesses.)
The Score: ⬜ (White) = A tile you flipped 🟪 (Purple) = A tile you kept hidden.
Best Result = ⬜🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 | Guesses: 1 (Only needed one clue and one guess to get it right)
Come back every weekday by 9am for a new grid or subscribe to Z Daily, Zikoko’s daily newsletter, to get new GridLocked puzzles, real Nigerian stories and other fun content in your inbox.
How to Play GridLocked
The Goal: Guess the answer for the day before time runs out. (The answer could be a Nigerian person, place, song, movie, or even slang.)
The Lock: You cannot type a guess until you have revealed at least one tile (clue).
The Reveal: Tap any tile to reveal a clue. Every clue describes the answer for the day. The fewer tiles you flip, the better.
The Clock: You have 60 seconds to guess right. The timer starts the moment you flip your first tile. (You get multiple guesses.)
The GridLocked Squares: What Do They Mean?
When the game ends, you see your guess count, total time spent, and the number of tiles flipped. The tiles are shown as white and purple squares.
⬜ (White) = A tile you flipped
🟪 (Purple) = A tile you left closed
The fewer white tiles you have, the better your result.
Best Result = ⬜🟪🟪🟪🟪🟪 | Guesses: 1 (Only needed oneclue and oneguess to get it right)
It might be your 20th, 30th, or even 50th Mother’s Day celebration, but finding the best Happy Mother’s Day messages to show your mum just how much she means to you never gets any easier.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of over 250 Happy Mother’s Day messages for every kind of moment. Whether you need something short, heartfelt, funny, or prayerful, you’ll find the right Happy Mother’s Day message to express your love and remind your mum how much she means to you.
Short and Sweet Happy Mother’s Day Messages
Sometimes the best Happy Mother’s Day messages are the short ones. Not because you don’t have a lot to say, but because a few honest words can land just as hard as a long paragraph.
Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for being the kind of mum who has always made me feel safe.
You are genuinely the best mum I could have asked for. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me what love actually looks like in practice.
Thank you for every sacrifice you made that I didn’t notice at the time. I see them all now. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve been my constant in every season and I’m so grateful for that.
You deserve a day where people treat you as well as you treat everyone else. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who always knew what I needed before I did.
I don’t say it enough, but I’m really proud to be your child. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! You’ve made our house a home and that’s not a small thing.
Every good thing I know about being a person, I learned from watching you. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. Thank you for believing in me even when I made it very difficult.
You are the strongest person I know and I hope you feel that today. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who made everything better just by being there.
I love you more than I know how to say. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for all the things you did quietly that I’m only now realising were acts of love.
You’ve been my biggest supporter and my softest place to land. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You are deeply loved, today and always.
Thank you for raising me with patience and grace, even when I didn’t make it easy. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has never stopped showing up for me.
I hope today you feel as appreciated as you actually are. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Happy Mother’s Day! You are one of the best people I know.
Thank you for being the kind of mum who listens. It has meant everything. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me how to be kind without being weak.
You deserve all the flowers, all the rest, and all the good things. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I am who I am because of you, and I’m grateful for that every day.
You are a gift to everyone who knows you, Mum. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! I hope today reminds you how loved and appreciated you truly are.
Mum, you’ve made every hard thing easier just by being there. Thank you for that. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who gave me everything and never asked for anything in return.
You taught me how to love well, Mum. That’s the greatest lesson. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! You are the reason I know what unconditional love feels like.
Mum, thank you for every hug, every pep talk, and every moment you showed up when I needed you. Happy Mother’s Day.
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When you want your Happy Mother’s Day message to really land, you need something heartfelt. These long, heartfelt messages go deeper than the surface and are great for showing how much you care.
Mummy, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything you’ve given me over the years, and I want you to know that I see it now. Not just the obvious things, but the quiet sacrifices and the small acts of care that I took for granted when I was younger. You have shaped me into the person I am, and I am so proud to be your child. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has been my greatest teacher. You taught me how to love without conditions, how to be strong without being harsh, and how to keep going even when things are hard. I don’t say it enough, but you are one of the most important people in my life and I am so grateful for you.
Mum, there are no words that really capture what you mean to me, but I’ll try anyway. You have been my safe place, my biggest cheerleader, and the person who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. You’ve given me so much more than you had to, and I want you to know that I notice. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.
I know you never expected a thank you for the things you did as my mum, but I want to give you one anyway. Thank you for the late nights, the worry, the patience, the grace. Thank you for showing me what it looks like to care for someone completely. You have loved me better than I deserved and I am trying to live in a way that honours that. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You have this way of making people feel like they matter, like they’re seen, and I want you to know that you matter too. You are not just my mum. You are one of the kindest, strongest, most generous people I know, and the world is better because you’re in it. I love you so much.
Mum, every year on Mother’s Day I try to find new ways to tell you how much I appreciate you, and every year I realise that the words don’t quite fit. You have given me a foundation that I stand on every single day. You taught me how to be brave, how to be compassionate, and how to keep showing up for the people I love. I am who I am because of you. Happy Mother’s Day.
I used to think being a mum was just about doing the right things, but watching you has taught me that it’s about showing up with love, even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, even when no one is watching. You have done that for me my entire life, and I am so deeply grateful. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You are extraordinary.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has held my hand through every hard season and celebrated with me through every good one. You have never stopped being there, and I want you to know that I notice. I see the effort, the care, the love. You are not just a good mum. You are the best mum I could have asked for, and I am so lucky to be yours.
Mum, I don’t know how you managed to raise me with so much patience and grace, but I’m grateful you did. You have been my constant source of comfort, my sounding board, and the person I always want to call when something good or bad happens. Thank you for being all of that and more. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you endlessly.
There are days when I think about all the ways you’ve shaped my life, and I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude. You gave me roots and wings. You taught me to be strong but also to be soft. You loved me in a way that made me feel like I could do anything. That’s not something every child gets, and I know how lucky I am. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me that love is not just a feeling but a series of choices you make every single day. You chose to love me through every phase, every mistake, every difficult moment. That’s a kind of love I’m still learning to understand, and I’m so grateful you gave it to me. I love you.
Mum, you have been my biggest supporter, my most honest critic, and my safest place to land when life got too heavy. You’ve shown me what it looks like to live with integrity and kindness, and I carry that with me everywhere I go. I don’t say it enough, but I’m really proud to be your child. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You have this quiet strength that I’ve watched my whole life, and I hope you know how much I admire it. You’ve carried so much with such grace, and you deserve to feel honoured today and every day.
Mum, I know there were days when you were tired, overwhelmed, or unsure if you were doing it right. I want you to know that you did. You gave me the kind of love that makes everything else in life feel manageable. Thank you for that. Happy Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day wishes are a bit different from messages. Where a message tends to be personal and reflective, a wish looks forward. It’s about what you hope this day and this year will bring her. These Mother’s Day wishes are warm and genuine, perfect for when you want to send your mum something that focuses on her happiness, her peace, and all the good things she deserves.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day filled with all the rest and joy you’ve been giving everyone else all year long.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I hope today brings you laughter, good company, and at least one moment where you feel truly appreciated.
My wish for you this Mother’s Day is simple: may you feel as loved as you actually are.
Wishing you a day where no one asks you for anything and you get to just exist peacefully. You’ve earned it. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. May this year bring you good health, deep happiness, and more reasons to smile than you can count.
I hope this Mother’s Day reminds you of how many lives you’ve touched and how much you mean to all of us.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day that’s as warm, generous, and beautiful as you are.
Happy Mother’s Day. May today be the start of a year where things finally get easier for you. You deserve that.
My wish for you this Mother’s Day is that you get everything you’ve been quietly hoping for but haven’t said out loud.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day filled with good food, great conversation, and people who actually listen when you talk.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I hope this year brings you the kind of peace that you’ve spent your whole life giving to others.
May your Mother’s Day be full of small, lovely moments that add up to something really special.
Wishing you a day where you feel celebrated, not just today, but all year long. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day. I hope today gives you a chance to exhale and feel genuinely cared for.
My wish for you is that this Mother’s Day marks the beginning of a season where you prioritise yourself as much as you prioritise everyone else.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day surrounded by the people who love you most and who show it in ways that matter.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. May you be blessed with long life, good friends, and the kind of happiness that lasts.
I hope this Mother’s Day brings you something unexpected and wonderful. You deserve surprises that delight you.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day where you don’t have to cook, clean, or manage anyone. Just rest. Just be.
Happy Mother’s Day. May this year ahead be the one where your dreams stop getting pushed to the side and finally get their turn.
My wish for you is that today you feel seen, honoured, and genuinely appreciated for everything you are.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day full of sunshine, kind words, and people who treat you the way you’ve always treated them.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I hope this day gives you a reason to feel proud of everything you’ve built and everyone you’ve loved.
May your Mother’s Day be peaceful, your year be prosperous, and your heart be full. You deserve all of it.
Wishing you a Mother’s Day that feels like a warm hug from everyone who has ever been lucky enough to know you.
If faith is a big part of your relationship with your mum, a Happy Mother’s Day prayer can be one of the most meaningful messages you send her. These prayers are for mothers who deserve to feel covered, blessed, and seen.
Heavenly Father, on this Mother’s Day I’m lifting up my mum to you. Thank you for her life, her strength, and her heart. I pray you would bless her abundantly this year and give her the peace, joy, and rest she deserves. Amen.
Lord, I thank you for my mum and for every sacrifice she has made for me. I pray that you would protect her, strengthen her, and surround her with your love today and always. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You are covered in prayer.
Dear God, thank you for giving me a mum who has loved me with the same kind of grace you show us. I pray that you would bless her with good health, deep joy, and a heart full of peace. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You are so loved.
Father, I lift my mum up to you today. Thank you for her faithfulness, her patience, and her love. I pray you would pour out your blessings on her life and remind her of how precious she is to you and to us. Happy Mother’s Day.
Lord, I pray for my mum on this Mother’s Day. May she feel your presence in every part of her day. May she know how deeply she is valued and how much her love has shaped the people around her. Bless her, keep her, and let her feel your peace. Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank you for my mum. I pray that you would give her strength when she’s tired, comfort when she’s heavy, and joy that overflows in every season. She has given so much to us, and I pray you would give back to her in ways that surprise and delight her. Happy Mother’s Day.
Dear Lord, I pray for my mum today. You have used her to teach me about love, sacrifice, and faith. I pray you would bless her with everything her heart has been quietly hoping for. Surround her with your favour and let her feel deeply loved today. Amen.
Father God, thank you for the gift of my mum. I pray you would protect her health, bless her with peace, and fill her life with moments that make her smile. She has been a blessing to me and I pray you would bless her in return, abundantly and without measure. Happy Mother’s Day.
Lord, I lift up my mum to you today. Thank you for her prayers, her wisdom, and her unwavering love. I pray you would cover her with your grace, renew her strength, and remind her of how loved and valued she is. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for my mum and for the ways she has reflected your love in her care for me. I pray that you would bless her richly, give her rest when she needs it, and fill her heart with joy that lasts. Happy Mother’s Day.
Dear God, I pray for my mum today. Thank you for her life and for the countless ways she has shown me what it means to love selflessly. I pray you would bless her with good health, deep peace, and a heart that knows how treasured she is. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Lord, I bring my mum before you today with a grateful heart. Thank you for her faithfulness and her love. I pray you would give her everything she needs and more. Bless her coming and going, her work and her rest, and let her feel your presence every day. Happy Mother’s Day.
Father, thank you for my mum. I pray that on this Mother’s Day and every day after, you would remind her of her worth, her strength, and her beauty. May she feel your love in tangible ways and know that she is deeply cherished. Amen.
Heavenly Father, I lift my mum up to you. Thank you for her heart and for the ways she has cared for me without expecting anything in return. I pray you would bless her abundantly, protect her, and fill her life with joy. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Father, thank you for my mum. I pray that on this Mother’s Day and every day after, you would remind her of her worth, her strength, and her beauty. May she feel your love in tangible ways and know that she is deeply cherished. Amen.
Heavenly Father, I lift my mum up to you. Thank you for her heart and for the ways she has cared for me without expecting anything in return. I pray you would bless her abundantly, protect her, and fill her life with joy. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Lord, I thank you for giving me a mum who has loved me well. I pray that you would bless her today with peace that surpasses understanding, joy that fills her heart, and the knowledge of how deeply she is loved. Happy Mother’s Day.
Dear God, on this Mother’s Day I pray you would give my mum rest. Real, restorative rest that refreshes her body and her spirit. She pours out so much. Fill her back up. Amen.
Father, thank you for the gift of my mum. I pray you would bless her with long life, good health, and a heart that remains full of hope and joy. May she always know how loved and appreciated she is. Happy Mother’s Day.
Lord, I pray my mum feels seen today. Not just by us, but by you. May she know that every sacrifice, every prayer, every moment of care has been noticed and treasured. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Not every Mother’s Day message has to be sentimental. If your relationship with your mum is built on laughter and teasing, a funny Happy Mother’s Day message might be exactly what she needs.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who gave me life and has regretted it approximately 47% of the time. Love you, Mum.
Mum, thank you for putting up with me during my teenage years. I know that couldn’t have been easy. You deserve a medal, but this card will have to do. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for pretending not to know about all the things I did that you definitely knew about. Your strategic ignorance saved my life.
Mum, I turned out pretty okay considering what you had to work with. Happy Mother’s Day to the real MVP.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who can find anything I’ve lost, fix anything I’ve broken, and still somehow love me after all of it.
Thanks for not selling me when I was a terrible child. I know you thought about it. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You raised me with love, patience, and a lot of threats that you never actually followed through on. It worked.
Mum, I know I was your favourite child. You don’t have to say it out loud, but we both know. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who told me I could be anything I wanted and then acted surprised when I became exactly this.
Thank you for always being right about everything. It’s annoying, but also very helpful. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You deserve a day off from being everyone’s emotional support system. Unfortunately, we’re all still going to need you. Sorry.
Mum, you taught me everything I know, which explains a lot about why my life is like this. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the only person who can make me feel like I’m 12 years old with just one look. Respect.
Thank you for giving me life and then spending the next several decades making sure I didn’t accidentally end it. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I promise to call you more often. By ‘more often’ I mean I’ll think about calling and then text instead.
Mum, you’re the only person who could love me this much while also being fully aware of how annoying I am. That’s a gift. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who told me ‘because I said so’ and refused to elaborate. Turns out that was valid parenting.
Thank you for all the life lessons, Mum. Especially the one where you taught me that ‘we have food at home’ was non-negotiable. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! You’ve been a great mum and an even better source of embarrassing childhood stories that I wish you’d stop telling people.
Mum, I know you love all your children equally. But we both know I’m the one you’re most entertained by. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who kept me alive despite my best efforts to the contrary. You’re a legend.
Thank you for teaching me important life skills like how to pretend I’m listening and how to look busy when I’m not. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
Happy Mother’s Day! You deserve a spa day, a vacation, and approximately six months of uninterrupted sleep. Realistically, you’ll get a card and some flowers, but the thought counts.
Mum, you are the strongest, wisest, most patient woman I know. Also the scariest when you use my full name. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who can guilt me into calling her without even saying a word. It’s a superpower.
Mum, I owe you my life and also several apologies for things you still don’t know about. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who somehow knew I was lying even when I had a perfect alibi. You’re terrifying and I love you.
Mum, you deserve a trophy for surviving my childhood. This card will have to do. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day! You gave me the gift of life and then spent years making sure I didn’t ruin it. Thank you for your service.
The relationship between a mother and daughter has its own specific language, and your Happy Mother’s Day message should reflect that. These messages are written from daughters who see their mums not just as parents, but as women they admire, learn from, and hope to be like one day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve shown me what it looks like to be a strong woman, and I carry that with me every single day.
Mum, every year I get older, I understand more of what you gave up for me. Thank you for the sacrifices I didn’t see at the time. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me how to stand up for myself and also when to be gentle. You gave me the full range and I’m grateful for that.
Mum, I look at you and I see strength, grace, and a kind of love that doesn’t quit. I hope I grow up to be even half the woman you are. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. Thank you for teaching me that being soft is not the same as being weak. That lesson has changed my life.
You’ve been my first friend, my biggest supporter, and the woman I call when I need to hear the truth. Happy Mother’s Day to my mum and my role model.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You taught me how to take up space in the world without apologising for it, and I think that’s one of the greatest gifts you could have given me.
Mum, you raised me to be independent and strong, and then you never stopped being there when I needed you. That balance is everything. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who showed me what unconditional love actually looks like. I am so lucky to have you as my mum.
Mum, I’m still learning from you. Every conversation we have, every piece of advice you give me, every way you show up in the world teaches me something new. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. That has made all the difference.
Mum, you are my safe place. You always have been. Thank you for giving me a foundation strong enough to build my life on. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me that I could be both kind and fierce at the same time. You are the perfect example of that.
Mum, I hope one day I can love someone the way you’ve loved me. Completely, patiently, and without holding back. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve given me so much more than I can ever repay, but I’m going to spend my life trying anyway.
Mum, you are one of the strongest, most resilient people I know, and I am so proud to be your daughter. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me how to dream big and then gave me the tools to actually go after those dreams.
Mum, thank you for showing me that being a woman means being brave, being kind, and being unapologetically yourself. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve been my greatest teacher and my closest friend. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Mum, you taught me that love is action, not just words. You’ve lived that out every day of my life and I am so grateful. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has always seen the best in me, even when I couldn’t see it in myself.
Mum, you are brilliant, kind, and one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out. I hope you feel that today. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. I am who I am because you loved me well. Thank you for everything.
Mum, every year I grow older, I realise more of what you did for me without ever expecting thanks. I’m giving you that thanks now. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me that strength and softness can exist in the same person. You are both and you are beautiful.
Mum, you’ve given me the courage to dream and the tools to achieve those dreams. Happy Mother’s Day.
Sons don’t always find it easy to put their feelings into words, but Mother’s Day is a good time to try. These Happy Mother’s Day messages are written from sons who want their mums to know they’re appreciated, loved, and respected.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve been the most constant, loving force in my life and I don’t say thank you enough for that.
Mum, you raised me to be a good man and I’m still working on it every day. Thank you for the foundation you gave me. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has always believed in me, even when I gave her every reason not to. I love you, Mum.
Mum, you’ve been my biggest cheerleader and my toughest critic, and I needed both. Thank you for never letting me settle. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You taught me what it means to treat people with respect and kindness, and I carry that lesson everywhere I go.
Mum, I know I don’t say it often, but I’m really proud to be your son. You’re an incredible woman. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me how to be strong, how to be humble, and how to love people well. You’ve given me everything.
Mum, you’ve always been in my corner, no matter what. That kind of loyalty and love is rare and I’m so grateful for it. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve shown me what real strength looks like, and it’s not loud or showy. It’s you, showing up every day.
Mum, thank you for the sacrifices you made that I didn’t understand when I was younger. I see them all now, and I’m grateful. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who made me feel like I could do anything if I worked hard enough. You gave me confidence I didn’t know I needed.
Mum, you’ve been patient with me through every phase of my life, even the ones that were probably exhausting. Thank you for never giving up on me. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You are the definition of grace under pressure and I’m still learning from watching you.
Mum, you taught me how to be a good person before you taught me anything else, and I think that’s the most important thing a parent can do. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the strongest woman I know. You’ve handled everything life has thrown at you with dignity and I admire you so much for that.
Mum, I hope I make you proud. That’s been my goal since I was a kid and it still is. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You’ve loved me unconditionally and that has made all the difference in who I’ve become.
Mum, thank you for always being there when I needed you, even when I didn’t know how to ask. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who taught me how to be tough without being hard, and kind without being weak. You’ve given me the full picture.
Mum, you’ve been my biggest influence and the person I look up to most. I love you more than I know how to say. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. Thank you for being someone I can always count on, no matter what.
Mum, you’ve shown me what real love looks like and how to give it freely. I’m still trying to live up to the example you set. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to my mum, my first teacher, and the person who has shaped me into the man I am. I’m so grateful for you.
Mum, you’ve always seen the best in me even when I couldn’t see it in myself. That belief has carried me. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. You are one of the most selfless people I know, and I hope you get to feel celebrated today.
Mum, thank you for the wisdom, the discipline, and the love. All three have made me who I am. Happy Mother’s Day.
Thoughtful Happy Mother’s Day Message for a New Mother
The first Mother’s Day as a new mum is a big deal. She’s navigating something new, probably tired, and deserves to hear that she’s doing better than she thinks. These Happy Mother’s Day messages are for new mothers who deserve to be seen.
Happy first Mother’s Day! You’re doing an incredible job, even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it. Your baby is so lucky to have you.
Happy Mother’s Day to the newest and already one of the best mums I know. You’re a natural at this, even when it feels hard.
You’ve only been a mum for a short time, but you’re already doing it with so much love and care. Happy Mother’s Day. You’re amazing.
Happy first Mother’s Day! I hope today you get to rest, feel appreciated, and know that you are doing a wonderful job.
Being a new mum is one of the hardest things in the world, and you’re handling it with so much grace. Happy Mother’s Day. You deserve to be celebrated.
Happy Mother’s Day! Your baby is still so small, but the love you have for them is already so big. That’s beautiful to watch.
You’re in the trenches right now, and I want you to know that you’re doing better than you think. Happy first Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to a new mum who is learning, growing, and loving her baby with everything she has. You’re doing great.
First Mother’s Day! I hope you feel celebrated today, because you are doing something extraordinary every single day.
Happy Mother’s Day. You are stronger, braver, and more capable than you probably feel right now. Your baby is so blessed to have you.
Happy first Mother’s Day! You’ve stepped into motherhood with so much love and patience. I’m so proud of you.
Being a new mum is overwhelming and beautiful at the same time, and you’re handling both with grace. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to someone who is figuring it all out one day at a time and doing it beautifully. You’re a wonderful mum.
Your first Mother’s Day! I hope you know how much you’re already doing right. Your baby is so loved.
Happy Mother’s Day. You’re in the hardest season of motherhood, and you’re doing it with so much strength. I see you and I’m proud of you.
Happy first Mother’s Day to a mum who is learning how to do the most important job in the world. You’re already doing it so well.
Motherhood looks good on you. Happy first Mother’s Day. I hope today gives you some rest and a lot of joy.
Happy Mother’s Day! You are exactly the mum your baby needs. Don’t forget that, especially on the hard days.
Happy first Mother’s Day to a woman who is navigating sleepless nights and endless love with so much grace. You’re incredible.
You’re a new mum, but you’re already a great one. Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you feel that today.
Happy first Mother’s Day! You’ve entered the hardest and most rewarding club in the world. You’re doing beautifully.
New mum, you are already doing so much right. Happy Mother’s Day. Rest when you can and know you are celebrated.
Happy Mother’s Day to a woman who is learning to be a mum and already loving it fiercely. You’re wonderful.
First Mother’s Day as a mum! You’re exhausted, you’re learning, and you’re doing an amazing job. Happy Mother’s Day.
Watching your partner become a mother is life-changing, and Mother’s Day is the perfect time to tell her you see her. These Happy Mother’s Day messages are for partners who want to honour the woman they love for being a great mum.
Happy Mother’s Day to the most incredible woman I know. Watching you be a mum has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
You are an amazing mum and an even better partner. Thank you for everything you do for our family. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who makes our house a home and our family complete. I love you so much.
I see you every day, doing the small, hard, invisible things that make our family work. Thank you for all of it. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to my love, my partner, and the best mum our kids could ever ask for. You are extraordinary.
You make motherhood look graceful, even on the days when you’re exhausted. I’m so proud of you. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who loves our children with a fierceness I’ve never seen before. You are the heart of this family.
Thank you for being patient, loving, and present in every moment, even the hard ones. You are an incredible mum. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to my partner in everything. I couldn’t do this without you and I’m so grateful I don’t have to try.
You are the best mum our kids could have, and I’m so lucky to be raising them with you. Happy Mother’s Day, my love.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has given our children roots and wings. You are shaping their entire world.
I watch you with our kids and I fall in love with you all over again. Happy Mother’s Day. You are everything.
Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful, strong, incredible partner. You are doing an amazing job and I want you to hear that today.
Thank you for all the moments I don’t see and all the things you do when no one is watching. You are the foundation of our family. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who has made me a better person just by being who she is. I love you endlessly.
You are the most loving, patient, and devoted mum I’ve ever seen. Our kids are so blessed. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to my love. You’ve given our children the most important thing they could ever have, which is a mother who loves them completely.
I hope today you feel as appreciated as you are. You are the centre of our family and we are so grateful for you. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who does it all and makes it look easy, even though I know it’s not. You are incredible.
Thank you for being the kind of mum who shows up with love every single day. Our kids are so lucky, and so am I. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who makes our family feel whole. I see everything you do and I am so grateful.
You are the heartbeat of our home. Happy Mother’s Day to my incredible partner.
Happy Mother’s Day, my love. You make motherhood look beautiful even in the messy moments.
Thank you for loving our children the way you do. They are blessed to have you as their mum. Happy Mother’s Day.
Sometimes you just need a short, sweet Mother’s Day caption for a photo or a quick social media post. These captions are simple, warm, and perfect for Instagram, Facebook, or anywhere else you want to publicly appreciate your mum without writing a full essay.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who started it all.
My first love, my biggest supporter, my mum.
She believed in me before I believed in myself.
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who made me who I am.
All the best parts of me came from her.
Lucky doesn’t even begin to cover it. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
The queen of our family. Happy Mother’s Day.
Forever grateful for this woman right here.
She’s the reason I know what love looks like.
Happy Mother’s Day to my first teacher and my forever friend.
Raising me couldn’t have been easy, but she did it with grace.
The strongest woman I know. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
All I am, I owe to her.
Happy Mother’s Day to the one who taught me everything.
My mum, my hero.
She gave me roots and wings. Happy Mother’s Day.
Every good thing I know, I learned from her.
To the woman who makes everything better just by being there.
Happy Mother’s Day to the heart of our home.
I got all my good qualities from her. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
She’s the real MVP. Happy Mother’s Day.
Forever her biggest fan. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
The best role model I could have asked for.
My mum is my everything. Happy Mother’s Day.
Celebrating the woman who gave me life and taught me how to live it well.
The first woman I ever loved. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
She makes it all look easy even when I know it’s not.
Happy Mother’s Day to my constant, my comfort, my mum.
To the woman who taught me that love is action, not just words.
My greatest blessing. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum.
How to Craft Perfect Happy Mother’s Day Wishes Every Time
Knowing what to say on Mother’s Day is only half the battle. The other half is figuring out how to deliver that message in a way that actually lands and stays with her. This four-step guide will help you make your Mother’s Day message one she remembers long after the day is over.
Step 1: Be specific
Generic Mother’s Day messages like “Thanks for everything” are easy to say and easier to forget. Your mum has heard them a hundred times. What she hasn’t heard is the specific thing you noticed, the particular moment that mattered, or the exact way she changed your life.
Instead of: “Thank you for always being there,”
Consider: “Mum, I still think about that night before my Chemistry exam, when I was panicking and you just sat with me. You didn’t try to solve it, you just stayed. That’s the kind of mum you are, and I’m so grateful.”
Step 2: Choose the right medium for your message
Not all Mother’s Day messages land the same way, depending on how you send them. A text is fast and convenient, but it can feel a bit disposable. A handwritten card has weight. A voice note lets her hear the warmth in your tone. A video call puts your face right in front of her.
The medium you choose should match what your mum values most. Think about what will make her feel most seen and loved, and meet her there.
Step 3: Make it about her, not you
Here’s a subtle mistake people make all the time: they write a Mother’s Day message that’s technically about their mum, but it’s actually centred on themselves. Phrases like ‘you made me who I am’ or ‘I wouldn’t be here without you’ sound loving, but they’re still putting you at the centre of the story. Make her the subject of the message, not just the reason you turned out okay. She deserves to be seen as a whole person, not just as your mum.
Instead of: “’You made me a strong person,”
Consider: “Mum, you are one of the strongest people I know. I’ve watched you handle things that would have broken most people, and you did it with so much grace and so little complaining. That’s real strength. I hope you know how much I admire that about you. Happy Mother’s Day.”
See the difference? It’s not about what she did for you. It’s about who she is.
Step 4: Pair your words with meaningful action
A thoughtful Mother’s Day message is wonderful, but pairing it with action takes it from nice to unforgettable. Words tell your mum you care. Action proves it. Think about what your mum needs right now. Is she exhausted or stressed? Is there something she’s been putting off because she’s too busy taking care of everyone else? Your message should acknowledge that, and your action should address it.
Consider:
Showing up at her house later that day unannounced and telling her you’re handling the dishes, the laundry, and whatever other chore she’s been dreading.
Restocking her kitchen and pantry.
Booking her a massage or spa appointment.
Buy her a gift with a card that says something like, ‘You spend your whole life pouring into everyone around you. Today is about you getting something back. Go rest. Go be taken care of. You’ve earned it.’
Kainene* (31) makes five times what her husband earns, and it’s tearing their marriage apart. Every bonus, big purchase, and career milestone has become a source of tension in their home. What started as a partnership built on equality has become a battleground of pride, power, and unspoken expectations, and Kainene is beginning to wonder if their love can survive when her success outpaces her spouse’s.
As told to Aisha Bello
I make more money than my husband. Our situation is growing less unique by the day, especially in a city like Lagos, where ambition is the default currency and the cost of living forces everyone to grind relentlessly just to maintain a decent life.
Because of the pay disparity between us, I’m frequently faced with adjusting my goals or finding a way to negotiate our feelings. Communicating our needs early and often is a great way to minimise frustration, hurt feelings, and hurt pride.
But sometimes, no amount of communication can dismantle the conditioning in a society that teaches men their worth is directly tied to their wallet.
When Jide and I started dating in 2021, we were in the financial trenches together. We were both 26, navigating the relentless hustle of the Lagos 9-to-5 life. He was an HR generalist at a mid-tier logistics firm, earning ₦250,000 per month. I was an account manager at a boutique advertising agency, taking home roughly ₦200,000 per month. We were financial equals. We took turns paying for dates at casual spots in Ikeja, split the cost of Valentine’s Day getaways, and pooled our December bonuses to survive the January drought.
When we got married at 28, our financial architecture was still perfectly symmetrical. I had moved to an in-house marketing role earning ₦400,000, and he had been promoted to an HR specialist role earning ₦450,000. He made slightly more, but we were fundamentally peers. We split the rent on our modest two-bedroom flat in Surulere down the middle. We were a team, building a life brick by brick.
The shift didn’t happen overnight, but when it did, it was seismic.
Shortly after our first anniversary, I realised that my trajectory in corporate marketing wouldn’t give me the kind of financial freedom I craved. I wanted more. I spent my weekends and evenings aggressively preparing for case interviews, leveraging every connection I had until I landed an associate role at a global management consulting firm.
My starting salary jumped to ₦1.5 million a month.
I remember our excitement the day I got the offer letter. Jide lifted me off the ground. We popped a bottle of wine, ordered expensive takeout, and spent the night dreaming about the future. The money felt like a collective victory. We could comfortably upgrade our car, start saving for a property, and eventually give our future children a head start.
Or so I thought.
If you work in management consulting, they pay you for your blood. The hours were brutal. I was frequently on flights to Abuja or Accra, working on strategy decks late into the night and surviving on black coffee and adrenaline. But the financial rewards were undeniable. Consulting rewards performance. You perform, you rise fast.
Fast forward to today. I am now 31 years old and an Engagement Manager. My base salary is now ₦4 million a month, supplemented by quarterly performance bonuses that could comfortably purchase a fairly used sedan outright.
Jide’s income hasn’t stagnated either. He is a hardworking, intelligent man. He recently became HR Manager at a tech firm, and his take-home pay is now ₦800,000 a month. Objectively speaking, ₦800k is a fantastic salary in Nigeria. It places him in the top percentile of earners in the country. But in the private math of our household, his income is completely dwarfed by mine. I now earn five times what he makes.
As my income grew, so did our lifestyle. We moved from Surulere to a serviced duplex in Lekki, which costs ₦9 million a year in rent and service charges. We installed a robust solar and inverter system to bypass the national grid. We now have a daughter, whom we enrolled in a premium crèche.
The financial reality of our new life doesn’t accommodate a 50/50 split. If Jide were to pay half of our ₦9 million rent, it would consume nearly half of his annual income. So, naturally, I took over. I pay the rent. I bought the solar panels. I pay our daughter’s school fees. Jide handles the estate dues, the internet, his car maintenance, and groceries.
Logically, this arrangement makes the most sense. Emotionally, it has become a battleground.
At first, the tension was subtle. It started with passive-aggressive comments about my hours
. “Some of us actually have time for our families,” Jide would mutter when I had to take a client call at 8:00 PM.
Then, it bled into our financial decisions. Because he couldn’t contribute equally to the big-ticket items, he began to fiercely, almost desperately, guard his authority over how the money was spent.
Last year, when we were discussing changing his car — a 2010 Honda that was spending more time at the mechanic workshop than on the road — I offered to buy him a newer SUV. It wasn’t a loan; it was a gift to my husband.
He was furious. He accused me of trying to emasculate him, of trying to turn him into my “dependent.” He ended up taking a high-interest cooperative loan from his office to buy a smaller car, just to prove he could do it himself. I watched him take on unnecessary debt out of pure pride, and it broke my heart.
The arguments have only escalated since then. The core issue is never really about the money; it’s about power, respect, and the Nigerian patriarchal dividend that he feels he has lost. Because I foot the largest bills, he insists on having the “final say” on every domestic decision, just to overcompensate. If I suggest we vacation in Cape Town, he will find a reason to insist we go to Zanzibar instead. If I want to hire a live-in nanny, he will argue for a day worker. It feels as though he disagrees with me simply to remind me that my money does not buy me compliance.
During our worst argument, after I had calmly pointed out that I was funding a particular home renovation and should therefore have a say in the contractor, he looked at me with a coldness I had never seen before.
“You think because you make money, you are the man of this house now?” he snapped. “You think you can talk to me anyhow?”
I wasn’t “talking to him anyhow”. I was talking to him the way I always had. But his ears had changed. Everything I say now is filtered through his insecurity. My confidence is read as arrogance. My exhaustion from a 70-hour workweek is read as neglect. My financial independence is a threat.
It is a profoundly lonely place to be. You work twice as hard to shatter the glass ceiling, only to realise the shards are falling directly onto your marriage. I find myself downplaying my achievements at home. When my bonuses drop, I don’t celebrate; I quietly move the money into my investment accounts so it doesn’t trigger his resentment. I make myself smaller so he can feel bigger.
We were partners when he earned more. We stood shoulder to shoulder and faced the world together. Now that I earn more, he treats me like competition — a competition he is losing. He is fighting a war I never declared, defending a title I never tried to strip from him.
I love my husband. I don’t want a divorce. I want the man who lifted me off the floor when I got my first big break. But as I sit here, looking at an Excel spreadsheet that holds the truth of our lives, I wonder how much longer we can pretend that my success isn’t the very thing tearing us apart.
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On the Streets is a Zikoko weekly series about the chaos of modern dating: from situationships and endless talking stages, to heartbreak and everything it means to be single in today’s world.
After spending more than a decade in a relationship he believed would end in marriage, Jide* (29) thought he knew what his future would look like. But when distance and betrayal unravelled the life he had imagined, it forced him to rethink everything he believed about love and commitment.
In this story, he opens up about growing up in a relationship and the heartbreak that changed his outlook on dating.
What’s your current relationship status, and how do you feel about it?
I’m single because I feel detached from the idea of relationships. Dating is exhausting, so I’m not actively looking.
Exhausting is a strong word. How did you get to that point?
I was in love with the same person for 13 years. When that relationship ended, it changed how I think about love.
I met Dami* when we were classmates in JSS2. Back then, people knew me as a bit of a rascal, while she was the serious one. My parents always compared me to students who were doing well in class, so one day I asked her to help me study. That was how we became close friends. Eventually, I developed feelings for her and told her how I felt. She reciprocated, so we started dating.
By senior secondary school, our relationship had become very intense, and I told her I wanted to marry her. She used to laugh about it, but I meant it. Teachers even tried to separate us because they felt we were too young to be that attached.
That sounds cute.
It was. I loved her so deeply that during our WAEC exams, I paid to get an expo for Maths because she struggled with the subject. Unfortunately, while I was trying to pass it to her, the examiner caught me. They withdrew my script, and when the results came out, I failed maths.
My parents were disappointed and wanted me to rewrite WAEC, but I refused. At that time, I was consumed by the idea of making money so I could marry Dami.
I decided the fastest path was to learn a trade. I started an apprenticeship in mechanical work because I dreamed of selling cars one day.
Dami constantly encouraged and reminded me that if we were serious about a future together, I had to become responsible. At the same time, she tried to gain admission into a polytechnic while learning hairdressing.
But by the time I turned 21 and my progress still felt slow, she started pushing me to prove my commitment. She wanted us to take a blood oath.
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What?
Some of our friends had already done it. It involved cutting your finger, mixing blood, and swearing commitment to each other. Dami wanted us to do it so she’d know I was serious about us. I was ready to go along when my brother, who was visiting, found out. He was furious and insisted I move with him to Ibadan to attend a technical school, convinced I was wasting my time in Ibafo.
Dami didn’t believe my explanation. She thought I was backing out because I wasn’t serious. I’d also sworn to her that I wouldn’t leave, but my parents and brothers kept pressuring me. Eventually, I gave in. In November 2018, I moved to Ibadan.
Did the distance affect your relationship?
It made things difficult. Communication became inconsistent because she didn’t even have a phone.
Sometimes we could only speak when her mother visited during the weekends or when a friend allowed her to use their phone. Even after she eventually got a phone in 2019, things didn’t flow as easily as before.
In nearly three years, I only went home twice. At first, it was because my brother wanted me to focus on my training, and later, the pandemic made traveling harder. During that time, she moved from Ibafo to Lagos to work with her mum.
After my training, I stayed in Ibadan for a few more months because I wanted to build capital for a solar installation business. Eventually, I returned home in April 2021, planning to reconnect with Dami and continue our relationship. When I called, she told me she was out of town and would be back in a few days.
But the very night I arrived and went out to see some friends, one of them made an insulting comment about her. When I fought him, they said they thought we’d already broken up because she was pregnant.
Wow. That must’ve been shocking to hear.
I refused to believe it. I went straight to her grandmother’s house. It turned out she was actually home and had lied to me.
Everything became clear immediately when I saw her. She was visibly pregnant. That was the most painful moment of my life. It felt like someone had ripped my heart out.
She told me it was a mistake with an older man in Lagos and that it only happened once. She said her mother found out early and stopped her from having an abortion.
You’d think that would end the relationship, but it didn’t.
Hmmm
I felt partly responsible because I hadn’t kept many of the promises I made to her, and couldn’t blame her for not waiting around. I also convinced myself it was truly a mistake. I decided to support her during the pregnancy. At one point, she was rushed to the hospital because she needed blood, and I donated. I believed that once the baby was born, we could still find our way back to each other, even though people mocked me for it.
But about three months after I accepted everything, she disappeared and was unreachable. Her grandmother later told me the baby’s father had accepted responsibility and asked Dami to move in with him. He promised to pay her dowry after the baby was born.
That must’ve been devastating after everything you’d done.
It destroyed me. For a long time, I could barely function. I lost focus on my business and started drinking heavily. I was always high because it was the only time I didn’t feel the pain.
It took months before I started rebuilding my life again. By the end of 2022, I was finally accepting what had happened. Then she came back into my life.
How did that happen?
She came home for Christmas that December and reached out to apologise. I ignored the message, so she came to see me at my shop and asked if we could at least remain friends.
We talked for hours. From what she told me, it seemed like she didn’t have much choice in marrying the man. He had even refused to fund her education. During that holiday, she visited my shop several times. We caught up on everything, and she even gave me advice about my business. I realised I still hadn’t moved on from her
Then, one afternoon, she asked to see my new apartment. I agreed, and one thing led to another. We ended up sleeping together.
Even though she was married?
At first I felt conflicted, but I also realised I didn’t regret it. It felt like I was reclaiming someone who’d been taken away from me.
After the first time, it happened once more before she returned to Lagos. Part of me expected what was between us to grow stronger, but she went back to ignoring me.
That was when I realised the situation was unhealthy. When she visited again a few months later, I deliberately kept my distance. Eventually, she got the message and we stopped being close. She reaches out occasionally to ask for small amounts of money for her children, but that’s about it.
I’m glad you closed that chapter. Did you try dating again after that?
Most of the relationships after her were casual. I avoided commitment because I felt like it was pointless.
But in May 2024, I almost became serious with Bola*. She was a friend of my sister and was very intelligent. In many ways, she reminded me of Dami.
But I was cautious about jumping into a relationship with her. She often asked me for money and seemed most interested in what I could provide. A few months into our talking stage, I found out she’d been flirting with a new guy in town because he was spending a lot on her. That made me refuse to commit to her, and eventually she left for the other guy.
That experience completely shut down whatever emotional investment I still had in relationships.
I’m curious, do you think you’ll ever date seriously again?
I won’t say it’s impossible, but right now I don’t feel the desire. I’d rather focus on building my business. If I want children in the future, I might consider having them without the pressure of marriage. For now, I’m comfortable being on my own.
Looking back, what has all of this taught you about love?
I’ve learned not to make major life decisions purely based on emotion. Dropping out of school because of love is something I still regret. Now I try to approach things more logically instead of letting my feelings control everything.
Finally, how are the streets treating you these days? Rate it on a scale of 1 to 10.
9/10. Being single is peaceful. Love comes with responsibilities and emotional costs I’m not interested in dealing with.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.
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