A growing number of Nigerian women are upending traditional gender roles and forgoing parenthood

In Nigeria, where motherhood is deeply entrenched as a woman's primary purpose, a growing number of individuals like Jewel, Oluchi, and Ayanfe are making the conscious decision to remain childfree despite significant social pressure. These individuals face backlash ranging from condescension to outright hostility, with romantic relationships often ending when partners expect them to eventually change their minds about having children. This childfree movement exists against the backdrop of Nigeria's colonial history, which transformed indigenous concepts of "public motherhood" into Victorian ideals of domestic submission, though urbanization, education, and digital communities are now providing support for alternative life choices.