For many parents, the hardest part isnā€™t their childā€™s disability. Itā€™s the guilt, grief, exhaustion, and constant worry that theyā€™re not doing enough, even when theyā€™re giving everything they have. 

In this article, we spoke to eight mothers about what itā€™s really like to raise children with disabilities, and the joys, heartbreaks, and difficult truths that come with the journey.

1. ā€œI Believe His Deafness Alienated Him From the Worldā€ ā€” Doyin*, 45

My son was born deaf, and although he is almost 20 and doing okay for himself, I feel like I failed him as a parent. My husband died a month before the birth of our son, so I struggled a lot. I wasnā€™t that close to my siblings; my in-laws thought I was the one who killed their breadwinner, and because of this, I didnā€™t have enough of a support system. Maybe if I had more people in my life, I wouldnā€™t constantly feel like I failed as a parent. 

I was able to enrol him in a school for deaf people, but I believe his deafness alienated him from the world. I didnā€™t know much sign language, so our conversations were always limited, and because of that, we donā€™t have a great mother-son dynamic. He barely had friends outside the ones he made at school because kids who could speak and hear always got frustrated with him for not understanding them. 

I couldnā€™t take him to a lot of events because he didnā€™t know how to read lips, and he hated that so much. He was a very lonely child, and although the world is better now and people are kinder to him, I still think I could have done more to make his life easier 

2. ā€œShe Got in Trouble for Being Unable to Perform Basic Reading and Writing Tasksā€ ā€” Amirah*, 39 

My twelve-year-old daughter has dyslexia, and I didnā€™t even know what it meant until her aunt, a psychologist, visited us for the first time, pulled me aside after a week of spending time with us, and asked me if I knew what dyslexia meant. That night, I conducted thorough research on it, and it started to put a lot of things into perspective for me. 

My daughter has always struggled with school. In primary school, she got into trouble with her teachers because she was unable to perform basic writing and reading tasks that most of her classmates could. We even had to change her school at some point because a teacher got so frustrated with her that he beat her till her body got marks. There was a time I sacked one of her home teachers who got too comfortable with calling her an olodo (dullard) whenever I wasnā€™t around to supervise. My husband and I thought she was just a child who didnā€™t like school and that she would eventually grow out of it. Thank God for her aunt. 

After her aunt guessed dyslexia, we booked an appointment with a neurologist who assessed her and confirmed what weā€™d already known. All we had to do was get her all the aid she would need. A week after her diagnosis, we found a private tutor who specialises in dyslexic children, and honestly, life has gotten better since then. She still struggles, obviously, but she seems happier, and honestly, Iā€™m just glad.

3. ā€œI Would Love It if She Were Like Other Toddlers Her Ageā€ ā€” Etim*, 28 

I have an autistic toddler, and I canā€™t lie, Iā€™ve not been having a great time with this parent thing. Iā€™m glad my husband and I have the financial resources to help her, but it hasn’t been easy. I know my daughter didnā€™t ask for this; itā€™s not her fault, but honestly, it has been so difficult. 

She is mostly nonverbal, so communication with her always ends in screaming, scratching, and tantrums. Unlike most kids, she shows little interest in anything or even anyone. She has a special interest in dolls, and that is the only thing she focuses on. It makes my heart ache because while her neurologist has assured me that she is not going to remain non-verbal forever, I would love it if she were like other toddlers her age. 

The worst part is that a lot of my friends and family do not understand autism or what it means, and theyā€™re not making efforts to educate themselves because they believe itā€™s ā€˜oyinbo illnessā€™, and itā€™s quite frustrating watching them pray over her head as if prayers would fix her. Iā€™ve had to distance myself from most of them because theyā€™re not even making the situation better. 

4. ā€œThereā€™s a Lack of Consideration for People With Disabilities in This Countryā€ ā€” Ngozi*, 38 

About three years ago, my son got into a life-threatening accident that permanently put him in a wheelchair, and ever since then, my eyes have started seeing the lack of consideration for people with disabilities in this country. Taking care of someone in a wheelchair is already hard enough as it is, but it is maddening when the places you visit do not have provisions to cater to people with disabilities. 

This is my biggest frustration about this. Few places in our state actually have wheelchair ramps or elevators, so there have been many times when my husband had to carry our son up the stairs, and on every occasion, I end up crying. I donā€™t mind moulding my life for my son and sacrificing certain things to ensure his comfort. It just pisses me off because when we step outside of our home, he faces the discomfort I do my best to shield him from. This is why my husband and I are planning to relocate to a new country where our son can feel more comfortable and at peace with himself. 

5. ā€œHer Defect Doesnā€™t Make Me Love Her Any Lessā€ ā€” Aisha*, 48 

My third child was born with a congenital eye defect, and she barely has any working vision. This is something that continues to break my heart because I just feel like itā€™s unfair that her siblings didnā€™t have any defects, but she does. Still, I do not love her any less. She is my daughter, and Iā€™m very happy that I  take care of her and make the world livable for her. Itā€™s frustrating to exist in a country where people with disabilities are seen as cursed. Iā€™ve never subscribed to that belief, so I let their comments roll off my back easily. 

Although she experiences life differently from people with sight, my daughter leads a normal life. She goes to school, interacts with people who see her beyond her blindness, uses her devices comfortably, and still tries to see the beauty of life. There are times when she gets frustrated by her inability to see what other people can easily see, and I donā€™t blame her for that, but still, she is happy, and that makes me happy too.  

6. ā€œThe Money That Goes Into Caring for a Child With Down Syndrome is Not Smallā€ ā€” Tumi*, 3

Our son has Down Syndrome, and it has been a rollercoaster raising him. Having him made my husband and me realise that we cannot just be 50% in. We have to be there for our child in every way he requires us to. And that can be financially and mentally exhausting. I donā€™t mind because I was already aware of his condition before his birth, and I knew the sacrifices I would need to make, but I would advise anyone who canā€™t make that dedication to terminate if they can. 

The money that goes into caring for a child with Down Syndrome is not small. There are countless physical therapy, speech therapy, and other appointments with the doctor that just take and take from you. You even have to care for this child while keeping in mind that they could develop a heart defect anytime, and you have to be mentally prepared for the way people look at your child, like theyā€™re some alien wandering the streets of Lagos. If you donā€™t have the right armour, you are going to fumble, and it would affect your relationship with your child.

Having my child has made me realise that people really need to be gentle and careful with the way they care for their child. There have been many times Iā€™ve looked at him and asked myself whether I really made a good decision in bringing him into this world despite the risks. There have also been times when I cursed myself for doing this to myself, but I never let that show when Iā€™m taking care of him. Down Syndrome babies are humans who also deserve to be loved by their parents, and I hope that I live long enough to keep loving him.

7. ā€œHe is Losing So Many Opportunities in Life Because of His Deafnessā€ ā€” Atinuke*, 59

I have twin boys, and one of them, Taiwo, is deaf. Taiwo is almost 30, and he has cut his dad and me from his life. I donā€™t blame him because of the way we mishandled his deafness. We knew he was deaf, and instead of helping him out like we were supposed to, we just dropped him off at his grandpaā€™s and expected him to figure life out. We didnā€™t want to claim a child who was deaf. It felt like a stain on our reputation, and we didnā€™t actually have the money to care for him. 

While he was at his grandpaā€™s, Taiwo apparently found a way to communicate. He couldnā€™t use the actual sign language because he didnā€™t go to school, but I learned that his cousins and the friends he made at his grandpaā€™s found a way to communicate with him, despite his deafness and muteness. On the weekends, when we visited him, he would try to communicate with us, and while I didnā€™t care too much about him then,Ā  I feel so much guilt now because I didnā€™t even try to bridge that communication gap or make life easier for him.Ā 

From what his twin tells me, Taiwo is losing so many opportunities in life because of his deafness. It makes me angry at myself because I believe that I could have been a better mother who did not turn her back on her child because of who he was. 

8. ā€œIt Was a Good Thing I Decided Not to Give Birth After Herā€ ā€” Mayo*, 40 

My daughter has low-functioning autism, and even though she is currently 18, she has the mind of a 3-year-old. It has not been very easy caring for her, and it was a good thing that I decided not to give birth after her. Because she needs all the attention she can get, I have devoted my best years to caring for her. My husband didnā€™t have to make such sacrifices because right from her childhood, he has refused to acknowledge that she is different from other kids. 

My daughter is mostly nonverbal, and it can get frustrating when Iā€™m trying to communicate with her and get no response. But the moment I leave the house to run errands, she throws the biggest tantrum. Sometimes, she would even rage-scream and act physically violent towards me. I work from home because of her, but she barely even lets me finish my deliverables on time, and while my boss is very much aware of my situation, it is still very frustrating.  I know that I could just spare myself the stress and get her into a high-end autism program that could provide her with the right support, but with the way she behaves sometimes, Iā€™m scared of her being away from home. 

You’ll Love: Pregnancy Showed Me Who My Husband Really Was

Beneath the chaos of the city, a different Lagos is slowly but steadily taking shape. One where smarter systems, everyday convenience, and new infrastructure are changing how people navigate the city. If youā€™ve paid attention to these things, chances are that youā€™ve already caught a glimpse of the future. 

Here are seven sure signs youā€™ve stepped into the New Lagos starter pack. 

1. You genuinely donā€™t know where your ATM card is

You probably think we are calling you careless, but honestly, thatā€™s not it. We also donā€™t know where our cards are.Ā 

There was a time when we had the tonasobe and the Motorola phones that could only make calls and send texts, but fortunately, technology has advanced, and we now have the androids and iPhones. Your phone can order groceries, pay your bills, settle your Uber driver, and take care of anything you need. The only time you ever remember you have an ATM card is either when your bank app fails (as it usually does) or when you enter a place that only collects cards.

2. Ā All the delivery riders in Lagos know the way to your houseĀ 

Yes, we are exaggerating, but even you know we are not lying.Ā 

There was a time when ordering things felt like a luxury, but now, itā€™s like second nature. Life has become so convenient that you donā€™t have to leave your house to buy food, clothes, groceries, or even medications. If you are an introvert, you are probably having a great time.Ā 

3. Fuel might be everyoneā€™s circus, but itā€™s not everybody’s monkeys anymore

Every Lagosian always seem to have a lore connected to fuel. Youā€™ve probably queued for it, fought a stranger over it, or watched it affect the cost of everything around you. Itā€™s exactly this reason why itā€™s impossible not to notice that some riders arenā€™t dependent on petrol like you.Ā 

4. An Okada finally gives your ears a break

If you are prone to sensory overload and live in Lagos, you probably have daily crash-outs dedicated to wondering about the reason for your existence.Ā 

The unorganised transportation system, the touchy conductors, the fumes, the buses and okadas with engines that sound like theyā€™re just two seconds away from croaking. So, the day an Okada passes by you without making any noise, you ask yourself if you hallucinated it, but no, you didnā€™t. Welcome to the New World.Ā 

5. You see a battery provide what a fuel station usually does

Youā€™re at the fuel station, fighting for your life (as usual), when you see a bike rider park nearby, and instead of joining the queue that was starting to get rowdy, they casually removed a battery from their bike, replaced it with another one, and rode off while youā€™ve barely moved an inch.

If youā€™re wondering what you just witnessed, itā€™s called battery swapping, and itā€™s already happening in Lagos. Spiro is an example of a company using it to keep electric motorcycles on the road without relying on petrol, giving riders a faster and easier way to get moving. 

But Spiro isnā€™t just making electric motorcycles. Itā€™s building the infrastructure behind them, making it possible for riders to easily swap batteries in minutes instead of waiting in fuel queues (like you). 

That vision is attracting serious (chaching) backing too. Spiro has raised a total of US$270 million from investors to expand its electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa. We guess itā€™s safe to say that, like us, the rest of the world might be paying attention too. 

6. You finally understand why that bike is soooo quiet

The first time you get to ride one of these bikes, you keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never does. The noise and the fumes youā€™re used to never come. It probably scares you at first because youā€™ve lived in Lagos all your life, and like a toxic ex, the city has not provided you with one single moment of peace and quiet, but guess what? That ends now.Ā 

7. You begin to realise that Lagos is on another levelĀ 

Not only are we beginning to have everyday conveniences, but we are now living in a world where bikes can run on batteries rather than fuel. If someone had told you a few years ago that such motorcycles would exist in a city like Lagos, you would have probably laughed in their face. Yet here we are, watching Lagos evolve with the times (as it should). 

The big story here isnā€™t the motorcycles, even though theyā€™re pretty awesome. Itā€™s the system behind them. Spiro is creating systems that could shape the future of mobility across African cities, finally making it possible for people to move around without constantly relying on petrol. 

The future isnā€™t in a strange land, expecting us with open arms. Itā€™s already finding its roots here, and years from now, we are going to look back on the fact that we were watching the beginning of something much, much bigger than quieter motorcycles. 

1. The VAPP Act (Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act), 2015

The first federal law to ban female genital mutilation (FGM), it broadened the legal definition of rape to better reflect women’s experiences and to cover tactics male offenders use, and Section 46 established a formal legal definition of sexual harassment women can cite when reporting.

2. The Child Rights Act, 2003

This act prohibits child marriage and betrothal and defines anyone under 18 as a child who cannot legally consent to marriage.

3. Ukeje v Ukeje, 2014

The Supreme Court ruled that Igbo custom cannot prevent a daughter from inheriting her father’s estate, relying on Section 42 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination by sex, ethnicity, religion, or circumstances of birth.

4. Anekwe v Nweke, 2014

Decided the same day as Ukeje v Ukeje, the court held that a widow cannot be denied inheritance for failing to bear a son.

5. Rivers State Inheritance Law, 2022

This law converted the Ukeje v Ukeje ruling into state legislation, giving women in Rivers State a written law to rely on rather than only a court precedent.

6. Married Women’s Property Act (MWPA), 1882

Allows a married woman to acquire, own, and sell property in her own right, with no automatic claim by her husband over property she owns separately.

7. Matrimonial Causes Act (MCA) Section 70, 2004

This act allows a wife to claim financial maintenance from her husband while still married, during divorce proceedings, or after separation.

8. Labour Act Section 54, 2004

Entitles women to 12 weeks of maternity leave, with at least six weeks taken after delivery, and at least 50 per cent pay for those who have worked six months or more.

9. Labour Act Maternity Protection Clause, 2004

The clause prevents employers from dismissing a woman or serving her termination notice while she is on maternity leave.

10. Section 72 of the Matrimonial Causes Act (MCA), 2004

This act allows a wife to ask the court for a fair share of property after divorce, taking her tangible contributions into account.

Iā€™m an actor and had featured in several stage plays in church, so after the meeting, he walked up, introduced himself, and told me he was a fan of my work and had been following me on Instagram. I just thanked him and thought nothing much of it.

The next time we saw each other at church, I asked him to take a picture of me. It might look like I was plotting something, but he just happened to be the only person around when I wanted one taken. Later, I asked if he was heading in my direction, and he said yes, so he gave me a ride home. Thatā€™s when we realised we actually lived close to each other. From then on, he started picking me up and dropping me off after every service. Over time, we became friends, exchanged contact details, grew closer, and, well, as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Before I met Michael, I had been intentionally single for about two years and wasnā€™t looking for a relationship at all, but he proved to be consistent in a way most people weren’t, and I could be myself around him without feeling like I had to perform or pretend. We shared the same values and wanted similar things out of life, and our friendship developed so naturally that choosing him just felt right. Michael was exactly what Iā€™d prayed to God for in a partner. 

We dated for ten months before he proposed, and we got married six months after that. 

Finding Out I Was Pregnant

One could say I found out I was pregnant almost by accident. I wasnā€™t feeling too well, and to be honest, I thought it was malaria. Due to my medical history, pregnancy wasnā€™t even on my mind, but I took a test just so I could rule it out and actually find out what was going on. But then two lines appeared on the strip, and my mind went blank. 

Completely stunned, I walked, or maybe ran, out of the bathroom into the living room, where Michael was. Tears were already streaming down my face because for us, this was a miracle we had been trusting God for. I couldnā€™t even get the words out, so I just handed him the test strip and ran off. 

He ran into our bedroom and wrapped me in the longest hug, and then he started crying too, so at that point, it had turned into a crying competition. While he was still holding me, he started thanking God and praying over both our baby and us. His response didnā€™t surprise me at all, and I mean that in the best way, because Michael has always been deeply rooted in his faith, so seeing him immediately thank God and pray over us was just the most natural response for him. 

What touched and warmed my heart was seeing how emotional he got. The way he thanked God with so much sincerity reminded me that this wasnā€™t just my answered prayer. It was ours. 

The Months That Followed 

Michael was so protective of me during my pregnancy. He made sure to look out for my peace, my mental well-being, my health, and every part of me. 

I remember the day I lost a friend, and another friend called to break the news to me. It was Michael who immediately stepped in, took the phone, spoke with her, and made sure devastating news like that didnā€™t reach me again. He wasnā€™t trying to hide anything from me. He just understood how emotionally overwhelming something like that could be while I was pregnant, and that moment has stayed with me ever since.

That same care showed up in so many other ways. He took responsibility for preparing for our babyā€™s arrival, and I didnā€™t have to shop for a single thing because he handled it all himself, right down to my own postpartum essentials. He attended my antenatal classes with me, and having him by my side made me feel deeply supported.

I could barely cook while I was pregnant because the smell of almost every meal made me nauseous. Michael wasnā€™t much of a cook back then, but that never stopped him from trying. To me, it didnā€™t really matter whether the food turned out perfectly. What meant the most was the love and effort he put into every meal. He called his sister for recipes, watched YouTube tutorials, and did whatever it took to make sure I never went hungry.

On the days my body was against me, he was there. He gave me foot rubs and massages almost every night, especially on the days my body felt heavy or sore. There were times I didnā€™t feel as confident as I used to, and he never let me stay in that headspace for too long. He always reminded me I was beautiful and that what my body was doing was incredible. On the days I didnā€™t have the strength to go to the salon, heā€™d arrange for my hairstylist to come to the house instead.

He even downloaded the same pregnancy app I was using, and Iā€™d often find him reading about our babyā€™s development and learning how to better care for me at each stage. Around the house, he took over. He cooked, cleaned, and ran errands without complaining or making me feel guilty about it. 

Pregnancy hormones are no joke, and there were times I didnā€™t even know what was wrong with me, let alone how to explain it to him. Somehow, he learned to read me. He gave me space when I needed it and held me or simply sat with me when I needed comfort instead. He was so patient with me throughout that entire season, and he never once made me feel like I was too much.

If you ask me whether there was a single hard day when he had to swoop in and fix everything, I honestly canā€™t think of one, because that wasnā€™t the kind of support he gave me. He didnā€™t only show up when things got difficult. He showed up every single day, in big ways and small ones, and thatā€™s what Iā€™ll always remember.

The Day We Met Our Son

I had a scheduled C-section because our son was quite big. He was born weighing 4.3 kilograms, and with the pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes, it was the safest option for both of us. We already knew the hospital didn’t allow partners into the theatre, but that didn’t stop Michael from trying anyway. He pleaded with the surgeon himself, hoping heā€™d be an exception, and even after being told no, he didnā€™t give up.

My surgery was scheduled for 3 p.m., and up until I was called into the receiving room, I had been excited to finally meet our son and put all the discomforts of pregnancy behind me. But the moment I was wheeled into that room, fear suddenly overwhelmed me, and I burst into tears and asked to see Michael. 

He came in immediately and started praying over me, wiping my tears between prayers and reassuring me that everything would be okay, and his calmness helped assuage my fears. When he saw me being prepared for surgery, I could tell he was worried too, and since he couldn’t come into the theatre, he literally knelt and begged the nurses to let him stay in the receiving room so he could be as close to me as possible. When they realised that he was not going anywhere, they eventually agreed.

While I was still lying on the operating table, one of the nurses came in laughing and told me my husband was worrying himself sick outside, trying to get in by all means. The joy that filled my heart was the last thing I remembered before going into deep sleep. When I woke up hours later, they told me Michael had eventually wormed his way into the theatre in the end.

What It Taught Me

Looking back, Michaelā€™s actions during my pregnancy taught me that love is best expressed through consistency. Heā€™s thoughtful and dependable, and he didnā€™t just show up for the exciting milestones. He also showed up every single day in the ordinary moments, too. That period revealed a side of him that made me respect him even more. It confirmed that I had chosen a man who serves his family out of love, not obligation.

It also strengthened our friendship and deepened the trust between us. We learned how to lean on each other in a completely new way, becoming more intentional about communicating, supporting one another, and facing every challenge as a team.

More than anything, I want our son to know that he was loved long before he was born. I want him to know that his dad didnā€™t just love him. He loved me well while I was carrying him. He protected my peace, cared for my health, celebrated every milestone, and made sure I never felt alone.

If I could thank Michael for one thing from that season, it would be for making pregnancy feel like our journey instead of mine. Every appointment, every milestone, every uncomfortable day, and every joyful moment, he was there. That unwavering presence is one of the greatest gifts heā€™s ever given me, and itā€™s something Iā€™ll never forget.

°Õ³ó±šĢżĀ is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Come learn from finance experts and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth and diversifying your income stream in a country like Nigeria.Ā Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.Ā .

In this article, we spoke to 10 Nigerian women living with the condition about what the name change means to them and whether they believe it will lead to greater awareness, diagnosis, and care

1. ā€œI Would Be More Excited If There Were More Awarenessā€ ā€” Mercy*, 30 

Iā€™m not on social media like that, so I found out about the name change while I was on a call with my friend, who is a doctor. When she told me about it, I honestly didnā€™t feel any type of way. Yes, Iā€™m glad for the name change, but I think I would be more excited if there were more awareness of the condition. 

I got properly diagnosed five years ago, and I have had to deal with constantly educating people on what it meant. I also had to endure being constantly invalidated by the health professionals because they couldnā€™t simply wrap their minds around it, even though it is their job to do so. 

The name change is great. I have friends with PMOS who donā€™t have cysts, so Iā€™m genuinely happy for them, but I would like to see more awareness being shed on the condition. 

2. ā€œIā€™m Excited About it Because I Donā€™t Have Cystsā€ ā€” Etim*, 28

I work in media, so I actually found out about the name change when my managing editor sent me a link to an article talking about it. I canā€™t lie, Iā€™m excited about it because I donā€™t have cysts. Most of my symptoms stem from the hormonal and metabolic effects of the condition, and I appreciate the fact that this name change might show that PMOS isnā€™t just about fertility, like most male doctors in this country keep saying, so they can trivialise your struggles. 

It affects not just the reproductive systems but also other parts of the body. In my case, that included insulin resistance and excess testosterone levels, and I hope that all the doctors who tried to gaslight me into thinking otherwise are having an inner reflection moment, but thatā€™s if theyā€™re even aware of the name change. We live in Nigeria, after all. 

3. ā€œI Am Glad the Conversation Will Now Shift From Just Fertility ā€ ā€” Banke*, 35

I found out about the name change while I was doomscrolling on Instagram one day, and to be honest, Iā€™m just blank about it. I donā€™t know if thatā€™s because I had to go through different medical professionals before I finally found a gyno that actually listens to me, or if itā€™s because the whole fertility conversation surrounding the condition has never moved me, because of my decision to never bring a child into this world. 

However, I am glad that the conversation will now shift from just fertility and reproduction, and we can start discussing other areas of our health that PMOS has affected. 

4. ā€œI Almost Gave Up on Not Getting Diagnosedā€ ā€” Mary*, 25 

I was on Twitter when I read about the name change. At first, I thought they were lying, but I googled and found out it was real. I remember calling my friend to talk about it, and I burst into tears. The number of times Iā€™ve been misdiagnosed by doctors, simply because I didnā€™t have cysts, almost made me give up on getting diagnosed. 

This condition has severely affected my physical and mental health, and yet, it was when I was visiting my family in an entirely different country that I was able to get a diagnosis from a kind gyno who made me feel validated in a way no one back home had made me feel. I canā€™t fully describe how happy I am with the name change, because it means that people with this condition can now get properly diagnosed instead of being carelessly dismissed, like I was.

5. ā€œBecause I Didnā€™t Have Cysts, Hardly Anyone Paid Attentionā€ ā€” Kiki*, 28

I got the information about the name change on a group chat with other women who also have PMOS, and I remember thinking ā€˜f¾±²Ō²¹±ō±ō²āā€™. When I got diagnosed two years ago, it was only because I finally had cysts. I should have been diagnosed years before that, because I was already having symptoms that were directly linked to PMOS, but because I didnā€™t have cysts, hardly anyone paid attention to me. 

They told me it wasnā€™t a big issue, and Iā€™m sure several health professionals probably still detest me because of how I made them uncomfortable after they made the entire conversation about cysts. The name change really made me emotional, because what if I never got cysts? Everyone would have been comfortable misdiagnosing me because of that? 

6. ā€œFor Years, it Felt Like I Was Crazyā€ ā€” Anita*, 38

No one is happier than I am over this name change. I found out about it when my gyno texted me because she was happy that more research would be done on the condition. I still canā€™t stop thinking about the relief that washed over me when I read more about the name change, because for years, it felt like I was crazy. 

Iā€™ve never had polycystic ovaries, but my insulin resistance is severe in a way that is quite concerning. So, before I met my current gyno, health professionals loved to pass me around because they didnā€™t really know what to do with me, since I didnā€™t have the textbook symptoms that they were used to. This is why Iā€™m so giddy about the name change: more research will be done, and people can know more and be more aware. 

7. ā€œI Wish Our Doctors Were Better Informedā€ ā€” Daniella*, 24

Honestly, I am happy the name change is getting the right attention,even though my doctor was not aware of the news, and I had to be the one to inform her about something she should know. 

I think thatā€™s why Iā€™m 50-50 about it all, because yes, more attention is given to the other symptoms of the condition, but when will funding start going into treatments and research? Research on the female body barely exists, and it is getting tiring. I wish our bodies were given more attention, and I wish our doctors were better informed. I shouldnā€™t have to be the one telling my doctor. She should know. 

8. ā€œThey Would Only Look Into My Matter if I Lost Weightā€ ā€” Binta*, 42

I got the news about the name change from my husband, who is aware of my diagnosis, and really, I canā€™t express how happy I am about this. Even though Iā€™d been struggling with my symptoms since I was a young girl, I didnā€™t get my official diagnosis until my early 30s and even then, I was still invalidated by health professionals. 

Everyone kept blaming my weight, and kept telling me they would only look into my matter when I finally lost the weight. I thank God for my husband, who found a good endocrinologist who actually listened to me and let me know all about insulin resistance and how it is connected to the condition. She made me feel seen, and it is such a blessing that the name change acknowledges that itā€™s not only about fertility or reproduction. PMOS symptoms are more than that, and Iā€™m just really happy the world is finally waking up. 

9. ā€œThereā€™s a Possibility Women with PMOS Might Still Get Invalidatedā€ ā€” Basiroh*, 25

I only found out the name about two weeks ago because Iā€™ve been on a social media detox. When I saw the announcement from my friend, who sent it to me because she is aware of my condition, I was really glad, but at the same time, it made me wonder whether Nigerian healthcare professionals will be up to date on it. 

It took time for some of them to get used to the previous name and understand it. Who is to say that theyā€™re not going to have a hard time wrapping their heads around this one? Most of them are not even being paid well for the work theyā€™re doing, so there is a huge possibility that women whose symptoms align with PMOS might still get invalidated. Iā€™m hoping that I might be wrong, and women whose symptoms are broader get the treatment they deserve. 

10. ā€œFor Years, I Lived My Life Without a Diagnosisā€ ā€” Rachel*, 23

The day I saw the news on Instagram, I was in class, and I got sent out because of my excited yell. For years, I kept telling doctors that something was wrong with my body. I was convinced that I had PCOS, and because I didnā€™t have cysts, they told me I was thinking too much and that I shouldnā€™t worry. So for years, I lived my life without a diagnosis. I was even starting to think that maybe they were right, and I was reading too much into it, but then the news came out, and it turns out that I was very much right. The doctors just didnā€™t care much. 

It was this news that finally convinced me to reach out to a gyno a friend recommended. Iā€™ve not met her because Iā€™m currently at school in another state, but sheā€™s aware of the name change, and she believes that I can get diagnosed. I am really just happy that I might get my diagnosis after being gaslit for a long time. 

°Õ³ó±šĢżĀ is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Come learn from finance experts and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth and diversifying your income stream in a country like Nigeria.Ā Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.Ā .

Everyone knows about morning sickness and food cravings, but pregnancy can come with plenty of unexpected side effects that no one warns you about. From losing teeth to blurry vision and pregnancy brain, the Nigerian women in this article share the surprising symptoms they experienced while pregnant. 

1. ā€œI Began to Have Awful Bad Breathā€ ā€” Marie*, 35Ā 

It pisses me off when I see women talk about pregnancy being an easy and stress-free experience, because itā€™s absolutely not. My pregnancy was the worst thing to happen to me, and I know everyone might say itā€™s an exaggeration, but itā€™s not. I had bad problems with my teeth while I was pregnant with my daughter. No one told me that one day, you could sleep with two of your molars intact and then wake up without them because they decided to fall out without your permission. And when I thought that was it, because surely, my baby wonā€™t want me to suffer more? My wisdom tooth, which I never thought I had, suddenly made an appearance. I even began to have awful, bad breath, even though I was taking my dental hygiene seriously.  Iā€™m so glad I had my husband with me; otherwise, I would have really done something harmful to myself. I donā€™t see myself having a child again because of the side effects I faced with my daughter. God forbid I do that to myself again. 

2. ā€œMy Brain Had a Hard Time Adding 2 Plus 2ā€ ā€” Amina*, 28Ā 

I thought the term ā€˜Pregnancy Brainā€™ was a myth until I got pregnant, and my brain suddenly had a hard time adding two plus two. Before my pregnancy, I was known for being someone who thinks quickly on her feet and is ready to solve any problem presented to her. No one ever had any hard time explaining things to me because I always understood immediately. 

So, imagine my surprise when I got pregnant, and my words barely started making sense. Stringing words together became a chore, and I had to start taking time before saying anything because there were countless times I said things that didnā€™t make sense. It was so embarrassing because I kept having people correct me at least 3 times during conversations. 

I was so scared that I would get sacked at my place of work, but thankfully, my boss is a woman who commiserated with me over it because sheā€™d also been a victim of pregnancy brain. It was because of her that I tried not to feel so ashamed about what was happening to me. 

3. ā€œHaving Random Bald Patches Really Made Me Angryā€ ā€” Banke*, 25

A major reason why I went from someone who wanted three kids to someone satisfied with just one is that I experienced severe hair loss while I was pregnant with my son. When I was a child, my mum always joked that I was the reason she didnā€™t have hair anymore, and I didn’t fully understand it until my hair started falling out. At first, I was even panicking because I thought that maybe I had a serious health condition, only for me to find out, after digging through every corner of the internet, that it was just the baby that was the cause. 

Iā€™m quite a vain person, so going from a full natural hair that I spent years treating with all oils and leave-in conditioners under the sun to having weird bald patches really made me angry. I love being a mother, but I donā€™t think I can do pregnancy again. I just donā€™t see it happening in my future again. 

4. ā€œI Got Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetesā€ ā€” Shukura*, 45Ā 

I have three children, and I wonā€™t advise anyone to get pregnant unless they really know the risks and still want to do it. With my first and second child, I had low calcium, and it felt like I was going to die because of the countless side effects, like extreme tiredness, that came with it. When I became pregnant with my third child, I really thought it would be the usual low calcium, but then I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and then I had to start watching what I ate, and how I ate, and everything became so stressful for me. I was so surprised that I actually gave birth to my third child because the stress that came from having diabetes really had me convinced that I was going to miscarry. 

5. ā€œMy Legs Have Suddenly Become Restless in an Annoying Wayā€ ā€” Lolu*, 24

I am currently 32 weeks pregnant, and while I have been having it easier than some of my friends, my legs have suddenly become restless in a completely annoying way. I could want to sleep at night, and my legs would get this itchy feeling because they want to walk around the house. When I try to ignore it so I can get some actual sleep, I just keep obsessing over it. Before you know it, Iā€™m walking around the house, and in the end, I barely get any sleep. It’s quite frustrating because I didnā€™t know about this before. I knew I would have to make some sacrifices when I decided to have a child, but walking around the house in the middle of the night because my legs are suddenly restless is not much fun. 

6. ā€œMy Nose Grew so Much, I Couldnā€™t Recognise Myselfā€ ā€” Fiyin*, 32Ā 

I am a light-skinned woman, and after I got pregnant, my skin darkened. I didnā€™t know that was a thing. I was completely caught off guard, and I couldnā€™t comprehend why my body would turn on me like that. Coupled with my dark skin, my nose also grew massively, so people always had a hard time recognising me. Even I couldnā€™t recognise myself in the mirror. I hated myself completely, and even though everyone kept assuring me that my body would go back to normal after having my child, I was still so depressed. Throughout my pregnancy, I had at most four pictures of my face. I really hated the woman Iā€™d turned into because of pregnancy. 

7. ā€œI Grew Hair in Places That I Had Never Grown Hair Beforeā€ ā€” Atinuke*, 31Ā 

I was aware that excess hair growth is something that happens to women during pregnancy, but I was still so unprepared when it happened to me. I began to grow hair in places that I had never grown hair before. I grew hair on my face, my belly, and even my nipples, of all places. I didnā€™t know that we could actually grow hair on nipples until that happened to me, and I had to thoroughly educate myself, and I felt so validated when I read other women’s experiences with excess hair growth. 

8. ā€œI Had a Hard Time Reading Because of My Eyesā€ ā€” Dora*, 45

During my pregnancy, I began to have problems with my eyesight. Before my pregnancy, I didnā€™t know what an opticianā€™s clinic looked like. Then I got pregnant with my second child, and suddenly, I had a hard time reading. I would have to squint a lot to see anything. I was so scared because I didnā€™t know what was happening. 

Then I met my doctor, and she was the one who let me know that bad eyesight is common in pregnant women. She assured me that it would go away after I gave birth, and it was just one of the many side effects that came with being pregnant. Throughout my pregnancy, I had to use prescription glasses, and even a month post-partum. I no longer have bad eyesight, but that was a scary time.

9.Ā ā€œMy Hands Became Completely Uselessā€ ā€” Kemi*, 33Ā 

I didnā€™t know what carpal tunnel syndrome was until I got pregnant. I didnā€™t realise how extremely important my hands were until carpal tunnel syndrome happened to me. As if the swelling and the pain that keep me up at night were not enough, my hands became completely useless. I could barely use it to carry anything with weight. Basic things I used to do with my hands, like holding my phone, became so difficult. I had to get my hands braced, and honestly, Iā€™m so glad this went away after I had my child. If it became a permanent side effect, I donā€™t know how I would have handled it. 

10. ā€œI Went From a Size 39 to 42ā€ ā€” Quineth*, 30Ā 

During my pregnancy, my feet basically expanded, and I went from size 39 to 42, and although I was aware that it was a possible side effect, I was still quite annoyed by it. I even thought that once I gave birth to my daughter, my feet would go back to their normal size, but a year after my child, and I am still a size 42, and finding the right pair of shoes in my current size has not been very smooth sailing. 

Motherhood can change more than a womanā€™s life. For many women, it also changes how they view their partners. While some discovered new reasons to love and appreciate their husbands better, others were forced to confront disappointing realities. 

In this article, eight Nigerian women share how motherhood transformed their view of their husbands.

1. ā€œHe was basically the calm to my stormā€ ā€” Aisha*, 30Ā 

Having my son with my husband has made me appreciate him more. Iā€™ve heard a lot of horror stories about husbands being useless and deadbeat while their postpartum wife takes care of the baby all by herself, but it was never like that with my husband. 

He took responsibility for our baby the moment we got back from the hospital. He didnā€™t make me feel alone amid the chaos that came with being a new parent. He carried his weight effectively. No one had to teach him how to bathe our son, change his diapers or feed him from the bottle. He learned by himself, and he was so patient with me, especially when I was dealing with postpartum rage. I would shout and throw things at him, and he would do his best to calm me down without yelling. He even found me a therapist and made sure I didnā€™t miss my appointments. He was basically the calm to my storm. 

He didnā€™t have a present father, but he learned how to be a good father to our child, and that just made me love him more. 

2. ā€œI couldnā€™t open up to him about my postpartum depressionā€ ā€” Derin*, 28Ā 

After we had our daughter, I immediately got on birth control pills. I realised that I would be doing myself a disservice if I had a second child with my husband. Throughout the time I nursed our daughter, he didnā€™t lift a single finger, and that was so funny to me because he was the one who kept begging me to have a child a year into our marriage, even though I wanted us to wait for a long time. He had been so excited when I told him I was pregnant, and Iā€™d foolishly thought that he would be a good father, but I was wrong. 

He barely paid attention to the baby or me. He didnā€™t know when the baby woke up, and he couldnā€™t tell if she was crying from hunger or because her diaper was soiled. When the baby starts crying in the middle of the night, he would literally wake me up and ask me to figure it out. I couldnā€™t even open up to him about my postpartum depression because I was so sure he was going to trivialise my struggles. He knows nothing about my early motherhood journey or anything about his daughter. 

Being a mother has shown me how disappointing my husband can be, and thatā€™s exactly why I wonā€™t be having any children for him again. He keeps asking me if we can try for a second child, and I keep telling him okay while knowing fully well that if my pills fail me, I wonā€™t hesitate to get an abortion. 

3. ā€œThroughout my pregnancy, he treated me like a princessā€ ā€” Nini*, 40Ā 

Before we had our twins, my husband was someone who smoked and drank at least three times a week, but from the moment I told him I was expecting, he discarded both habits. It was not an easy feat because he had been doing that for years, and I never minded because he wasnā€™t necessarily an addict in my eyes, but he wanted to be a good father with a clear mind. He didnā€™t have a good father, but he had a great mother who he learned so much from and it was from her that he learned how important it was for a parent to be present in their childā€™s life. 

Throughout my pregnancy, he treated me like I was a princess, and he always made sure I had access to all my cravings, including the ones that didnā€™t make sense. When we had our babies, he made sure he was there for every single moment with me. Having twins was already hard, so he made sure that the rest of my life was not harder. He took the bulk of the parenting, got a housemaid to help around the house, and he made sure I was not overwhelmed in any way. Because of him, I slept well, ate well, and didnā€™t feel guilty anytime I went for a walk without the babies. I never felt restless from being away from them because I knew they were in safe hands. Having children with my husband has brought us closer together than ever. I am glad he is my husband.Ā 

4. ā€œHe thought that just spending money made a fatherā€ ā€” Mary*, 50Ā 

Motherhood was definitely one of the major reasons why my husband and I divorced after twenty years of marriage. I grew up watching my dad be present in our lives, and it made me think all men were like that. Then I had all my children with my husband and realised how wrong I was. 

Right from the start, when we had our first child, I took on 70% of the parenting. For some reason, he thought that just spending money made a father. How they ate, who their friends were, what was going on with them at school, their injuries, none of them mattered to him. He was not present in their lives, and as time went on, all my children went from desperately seeking attention from their father to not wanting to be in the same room with him. Seeing the way some of my friendsā€™ husbands actively pay attention to their childrenā€™s lives without being told what to do was what made me realise that I couldnā€™t keep being with a man who barely paid attention to my children and me. We are divorced now, and the children and I have never been happier than ever.Ā 

°Õ³ó±šĢżĀ is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Come learn from finance experts and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth and diversifying your income stream in a country like Nigeria.Ā Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.Ā .

5. ā€œIā€™ve never enjoyed motherhood fully because of himā€ ā€” Beatrice*, 35Ā 

Having a child made me realise how inconsiderate my husband was. Before I stepped into motherhood, one could say I was blinded by the love I felt for him. It made me ignore red flags like him not helping out in the kitchen or still wanting me to cook him dinner after a long day at work. A lot of people told me that children change a man, and I thought that having his kid would make him more mature, but alas. 

Unlike me, he refused to create space for our daughter. He continued to act like he was a bachelor while I struggled with the parenting. He would go out, act like he didnā€™t have a family waiting for him, and when he got back, he would expect me to microwave his food, despite knowing I had spent the entire day fighting for my life at work and wrangling our daughter into order after getting home. Iā€™ve never enjoyed motherhood fully because of him, and this has only made me resent him more. Itā€™s this reason why Iā€™ve decided not to have kids with him anymore. Iā€™m not that pressed to have more children to prove a point or anything. Iā€™m okay with my daughter. 

6. ā€œIā€™ve never felt like I was married to a man-childā€ ā€” Rachel*, 28Ā 

Having a child didnā€™t change how I saw my husband. He has always shown kindness and patience to me, and I knew, right down to my bones, that he would express that same kindness and patience to any child I birthed. When we had our first child, he made sure to use his paternity leave fully so he could be there for me anytime I needed him. We already had a housemaid, but he got two more because he didnā€™t want me to feel any discomfort. He knew I wasn’t a big fan of family coming over and stressing out the kid and me, and he made sure to set boundaries with everyone of them. 

When I had a health crisis just a few days before him going back to work, he begged for an extra month just so he could be with me. Our child is turning two soon, and he has made an effort to be constantly present for her. For once, Iā€™ve never felt like I was married to a man-child who made excuses to not take care of his children. With him, itā€™s like a beautiful partnership, and since giving birth to our baby girl, Iā€™ve only felt closer to him. I canā€™t wait to have more children for him. 

7. ā€œI regret the fact that heā€™s their fatherā€ ā€” Ella*, 50Ā 

Having children ruined the balance between my husband and me. They opened my eyes and made me see that I was married to someone who did not show me consideration. I have three kids for him, and not once in his life did he ever take a break from work to spend time with them. He didnā€™t take his paternity leave because he didnā€™t think there was anything he could do to help me. He expected me to be at his beck and call during my postpartum, and I would never forget the time he yelled at me to get out of our bedroom when our first child, who was two months old at the time, started crying her lungs out. It was definitely stupid of me to see the way he treated me when I had our first child and still believed that our other children might ā€œchangeā€ or ā€œturnā€ him into a better father. I do not regret my kids, but I regret the fact that heā€™s their father. 

8. ā€œHe is careful in how he handles our sonā€ ā€” Naomi*, 26Ā 

Motherhood made me appreciate my husband more. He grew up an orphan and had to deal with his emotionally and physically abusive uncle throughout his teenage years, and he was worried about the possibility of turning out like him that he took himself to therapy the moment I announced my pregnancy. 

From the pregnancy through my child’s birth, he did his best to be present. He didnā€™t make raising our child seem like a burden, like Iā€™ve seen most husbands do. He is careful in how he handles our son, and heā€™s constantly learning new ways to care for him. Iā€™m even more in love with him than I was when we got married. I canā€™t wait for my son to grow up so I can better understand their dynamics. I know that heā€™s going to be a good father figure to our son, and I am excited to experience that. 

Next Read: What She Said: My Dad Spent My Mumā€™s Pension. Now Iā€™m Stranded in Canada

On X, a man recently shared why he cut his talking stage off.

And Nigerians had a lot to say about it, sparking a full-on conversation from different sides of X.

It all started with this original tweet, hinting at a deeper reason women cohabit with their partners.

Staying over at someone else’s house comes with certain expectations

But the idea that occupying someone’s space for a day could require anything from you simply never registered with some people before.

Not everyone agreed with that

A third group came with a different take on the same opinion

Then, the inescapable gendered angle

A strong case can be made here for being considerate in other people’s spaces. But guests can and should expect guest treatment when they’ve been invited.

The question here is: Does the original poster have the same expectations of shopping, cooking, and cleaning from his male friends or family members who stay over? Or was this a put-off for him because the woman in question was a “talking stage,” and thus, auditioning for the position of “wife”?

We may never know. But the pattern remains that daughters are often still assigned chores that sons are excused from, and that pattern continues to follow women everywhere they go, including into spaces that are not even theirs.

A last group shared some clarity on this angle

It goes both ways

Across cultures, a host is expected to err on the side of generosity. And guests are expected to decline offers once or twice before even accepting, just to make sure the host genuinely wants to host you.

That’s the often-overlooked reciprocal principle. A good guest does not exploit hospitality. The healthiest balance is when the host takes responsibility for comfort, while the guest takes responsibility for consideration.

So if a host feels used or imposed upon, either their expectations were not clearly communicated, the guest was truly inconsiderate, or both.

Letā€™s picture this together. It is 1:30 PM on a Wednesday. You are frantically responding to a client on WhatsApp, your content draft is open in another tab, a Google Meet invite for a 2 PM meeting just appeared in your email, and your phone is at 9%. The panic starts to set in because, of course, it does. You proceed to do the mental math of which app to close, which task to abandon temporarily, and whose power bank you can beg for, because NEPA has still refused to bring light and your own power bank is nowhere to be found. You have been here before. You will be here again. Or maybe not.

We are going to hold your hands and tell you the thing everyone is thinking but hasnā€™t said out loud yet: the hustle is not the problem. The schedule, as overwhelming as it can get, is not the problem either. The problem is that your phone was not built for the life you are actually living. Most devices clock out by noon because they were designed for someone with one job, one mail inbox, and the luxury of stable light and a power bank nearby. Not for a young Nigerian who is a freelancer before 9 AM, a content creator by noon, and an entrepreneur by the time the sun starts going down.

Letā€™s picture what another Wednesday looks like for you. You wake up and respond to messages from at least three different clients before you even check if your legs are still working. You move to a Slack thread about a brand deal, then switch to editing a caption for a post that should have gone up yesterday. By 11 AM, you are on a call, by 1 PM, you are setting up for a short video shoot, and by 5 PM, you are back on your laptop, showing a deck to a new client who is proving to be difficult, and somehow also trying to order your first meal of the day. This might seem like a chaotic life, but itā€™s really not. You are a Nigerian youth in our holy year of 2026, trying to do what needs to be done in order to make ends meet. The question is just whether your phone can keep up with all of that.

Lucky for you and us all, the Infinix NOTE 60 Pro was built with this exact Wednesday in mind. The 6500mAh battery does not start showing signs of exhaustion at 40% or leave you scrambling for a power bank by noon. This might sound unbelievable, but it is actually built to go the distance, and on the rare days it does need a top-up, the 90W charging gets you back in the game in the time it takes to finish a Shawarma. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor means every app you have open is actually working, not loading, not glitching, not making the phone feel like it is trying to boil an egg. You donā€™t have to put it in a fridge to cool it down.Ā 

There is also the content side of things to consider, because if you are building anything in this economy, you are creating content whether you planned to or not. The Night Master Camera means your shoots don’t have to wait for perfect lighting that Lagos might never deliver on the day you want it. The Rear Matrix Display gives you a live, accurate view of your shot, so what you see is exactly what you get, every time. Your content starts looking like it came with a production budget when really it is just your phone. Isnā€™t that great? 

The AI features are the part that changes how you work. Not in an obvious way, not at all, but in a ā€œI finished that task earlier than I usually doā€ kind of way. It helps to take care of the repetitive and the things that eat up most of your day without producing anything visible, so you can focus on the work that actually makes a great impact.

Running three hustles at once is not a personality trait in this economy. It is just Wednesday. At the very least, your phone can match your energy.

On June 2nd, 2026, Infinix brought one of its most anticipated product launches to 3cHub on Awolowo Way, Ikeja, gathering interested guests to experience the latest entry in its HOT series, the Infinix HOT 70.

Infinix set up a functioning fridge and a standby electric cooker on-site, using both to demonstrate the Thermo Orange variantā€™s temperature-responsive rear panel in real time. When cooled, the device turns to a darker Quiet Orange shade. If exposed to heat, it becomes a brighter Playful Orange tone. The setup was so eye-catching that it made the technology practically impossible to ignore.

The stall at 3cHub was brimming with other HOT 70 variants, including the Quiet Violet and Green Texture options, but the fridge kept pulling people back, of course. It turned a product specification into a live experience, which was clearly the point of it all.

Among the guests were celebrities including Elozonam, Neo Akpofure, and Stan Nze, who got hands-on time with the device. Conversations on the floor mostly centred on reactions to the colour-shift feature and the phoneā€™s DIY personalisation capabilities.

With the HOT 70, Infinix is letting its product do the talking for them, and a refrigerator turns out to be pretty compelling to make a point.