Reality TV star Mercy Eke has said she is prepared to become a single mother if marriage does not happen soon.
The former Big Brother Naija winner made the disclosure in an interview, explaining that she is mentally and financially ready to raise a child on her own. She said she is “ready to have a child outside marriage… At this point, I think if I get pregnant now, I’m just going to have my baby.”
Mercy added that she believes societal stigma around single motherhood does not apply to women who are financially secure. She said, “I have worked so hard, and I think I can take care of myself and three kids. For me, what people don’t know is all this stigma of having kids without a father is only applied to people who don’t have things going on well for them.”
The 35-year-old also noted that marriage is not a priority for her at the moment because she is yet to meet a partner who fits her expectations. She said, “I’ve not met the person that I will want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Mercy has previously discussed unconventional routes to motherhood. In earlier interviews, she revealed she once considered using a sperm donor and a surrogate. She explained, “I had said that I was gonna buy a baby. Not like buying a baby. Just get someone, take my eggs, get someone to be a sperm donor, hire a surrogate, and have a beautiful baby.”
She also hinted that becoming a mother before marriage could change her views on settling down. “Now that marriage sef… it’s like I go just carry belle, born, and rest. And once I have a baby outside of marriage, I am not getting married again. All my love, I will give it to my baby,” she said.
