Sophia Momodu, entrepreneur and mother of Davido’s first child, has opened up about the public scrutiny and ridicule she endured after becoming pregnant by the singer outside marriage.
Momodu shared the experience while speaking on a side panel at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. A video from the event was posted on her Instagram Story on Tuesday.
Reflecting on the period, Momodu said her pregnancy attracted intense stigma, particularly because she was raised as the daughter of a pastor.
She said, “This is my life story. I am a pastor’s daughter who got pregnant out of wedlock by a global superstar. And I was mocked. It was crazy. And I had to find my strength in the midst of all of that.
“And for the longest time, I didn’t have a voice. I was famous, I was popular, but I didn’t have a voice. It kept getting drowned out by whatever negativity was around that story.
“If you’re Nigerian and you’re here, you know that it’s almost a taboo to be a pastor’s daughter and have a child out of wedlock.”
According to Momodu, she eventually became comfortable with speaking publicly about her experience and found that her story resonated with several women who had faced similar circumstances.
So, I needed that story to be truly understood, and I’m so grateful for Stephanie because her story gave me that platform. I felt like that put fire in my… I just kept going,” she said.
She also recalled being encouraged by a family member to avoid discussing the matter publicly.
“And then, an aunt called me one day and said a friend of hers had called her to talk to me to please keep quiet, because this is not a topic that we are allowed to talk about as Black women,” Momodu said.
Momodu said speaking about her experience at various platforms, including radio stations and events in South Africa, eventually showed her that many other women had gone through comparable experiences.
READ ALSO:EFCC Arraigns Entertainment Firm CEO Over Alleged N16.8m Dud Cheque Fraud
“And I just wanted to say that because of her story, Google, I’ve told my story at forums. I’ve talked about this in places like South Africa, radio stations, and it was just amazing to see that I was not alone. There were so many women that came to me and said, ‘Listen, it happened to me too.’
“And I was like, ‘Wow.’ I’m just grateful for the platform, I’m grateful to be able to tell my story, and because of people like Stephanie and these amazing women on this panel, I don’t think I would ever stop telling my story.”
Momodu and Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, welcomed their daughter, Imade Adeleke, on May 14, 2015, following their relationship. DNA testing later established Davido’s paternity.
The pair had an on-and-off relationship before their involvement ended in 2022, and they were never married.
Their relationship after separation has involved several public disputes concerning the care and upbringing of their daughter. In 2016, Momodu and her uncle, publisher Dele Momodu, alleged that Davido’s family attempted to take Imade out of Nigeria without their consent. The dispute was later resolved.
Subsequent disagreements between the two have included claims concerning financial responsibilities, access to Imade, lifestyle issues and statements made publicly by both parties.
Momodu has at various times said she was responsible for much of the child’s care and expenses, while Davido has maintained that he met his responsibilities as a father, including providing accommodation and paying school fees at different periods.
In April 2024, Davido approached the Lagos State High Court seeking joint custody and unrestricted access to Imade.
Momodu challenged the application, saying she had never prevented Davido from seeing their daughter and that any interruption in contact after July 2022 was his decision. She also raised issues concerning intimacy and alleged financial shortcomings during the proceedings.
The case continued through a series of hearings until February 2026, when Davido announced that he was withdrawing the suit following a tense court session in which Momodu’s lawyer reportedly referred to the death of Davido’s son, Ifeanyi, in 2022.
Davido subsequently clarified that his application had been for joint, rather than sole, custody, adding that Imade was the only real loss from the dispute.
Born in 1987, Momodu founded the Precious Jewels Foundation, an organisation focused on the intellectual development and wellbeing of vulnerable women and children.
She also operates a fashion and beauty brand and has featured on The Real Housewives of Lagos.
Her participation in the UNGA 81 side events reflects her growing public advocacy work beyond her long-running personal history with Davido.