I got married in 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria and was blessed with three beautiful daughters. Eight years later, the marriage ended and I became a single mother.  I was abandoned with 3 children. I was lost, broke, scared, directionless, blamed, judged, termed stubborn, avoided by family both immediate and extended, and avoided by friends. I was “broke” financially, mentally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. In that state, I still had to become a support system for my three children and be 100% responsible for all their needs.

Many single women in Nigeria get tired of chasing the father of their children for support and decide to brace it by themselves and carry the burden alone. I am currently in the same situation as several efforts to reach the father of my children were futile, I had to assume his responsibilities in addition to my own. I have decided to carry this burden and care for my children until the court decides the way forward, which is usually a slow process in Nigeria.

I know about this slow process first-hand because I am a Legal Practitioner in Nigeria. As a Change leader from Nguvu Collective, I am determined to do something about this issue facing single mothers like me all across Nigeria. 

My journey as a single mum opened my eyes to the plight of a lot of Nigerian women who became single mothers either through a divorce, legal or illegal separation, teenage pregnancy, rape or domestic violence survivors who exited their marriage just to stay alive. 

According to research by the Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, the proportion of single motherhood has increased significantly in Nigeria from 14.1% in 1993 to 19.5% in 2014.

I am calling on the Honourable Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State to help drive this cause to alleviate the extreme hardship and poor living conditions faced by single mothers in Nigeria, starting with Lagos State. The Matrimonial Causes Act, The Child’s Rights Act, and Constitution on Human Rights serve as a basis for my request to pass a law in Lagos State criminalising the lack of child support from Fathers in Nigeria.

Women-based initiatives and NGOs should massively publicize/create awareness of the available methods to seek Child support by giving free legal workshops specifically channelled to this cause.

Your signature will save the lives of millions of children from broken homes and reduce crime rates if these children are adequately provided for. Your signature will make fathers responsible towards their children in Nigeria. Your signature will give single mothers across the country a breath of fresh air. 

Please sign and share my petition in your network. #ChildSupportNG #FathersPayChildSupport