Nigerian entrepreneur Sophia Momodu addressed the stigma she faced as a pastor’s daughter who became pregnant outside marriage, speaking on a panel at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday, September 22, 2026.
Momodu, who is the mother of singer Davido’s eldest daughter, Imade Adeleke, told the panel that her pregnancy drew mockery because of her family’s religious background. “I am a pastor’s daughter who got pregnant out of wedlock by a global superstar. And I was mocked,” she said.
She said the criticism she faced left her without a public voice for years, despite her visibility as a public figure. “For the longest time, I didn’t have a voice,” she said.
Sophia recalled being advised by an aunt to stay silent on the matter, on the basis that it was not a subject Black women were expected to discuss publicly. She said the pressure showed a wider taboo in Nigeria around pastors’ daughters having children outside marriage.
She credited a conversation with another woman for helping her speak more openly about her experience. Sophia Momodu said that recounting her story on radio stations in South Africa showed her she was not alone, as several women came forward afterward with similar accounts.
Momodu’s appearance is part of her participation in UNGA81 activities, where she is representing the Precious Jewels Foundation in discussions on community development and inclusion. She had announced her attendance at the gathering on September 19.
Imade Adeleke, her daughter with Davido, was born in May 2015. Momodu’s relationship with the singer and the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy have remained a recurring subject of public discussion in the years since.
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Reaction to her comments on social media was divided. A number of users criticized Momodu for continuing to reference her past relationship with Davido, with one commenter arguing that she should focus on her branding apart from him.
Others defended her right to tell her own story, noting that an unplanned pregnancy is not, in their view, a matter deserving continued judgment.
