Nigerian Mother in Canada Speaks Out on Struggles of Single Parenting After Leaving Marriage

A Nigerian woman living in Canada has publicly shared her frustrations about raising her four children alone nearly a year after leaving her marriage, highlighting the absence of support from their father.

In a heartfelt Facebook post that has gained attention online, the mother, identified as Ada Igbo, revealed that January 4, 2026, will mark one full year since she departed the marriage with her children.

'January 4th makes it one full year since I left my marriage with my children,' she wrote. 'And ever since, people keep saying: 'You shouldn’t be taking care of those kids alone.' 'Their father should be providing.' 'Why didn’t you leave them with him?' 'Why don’t you send them back to Nigeria?''

She firmly ruled out leaving the children with their father, explaining that it was not an option because she left the marriage to protect them. Ada Igbo recounted her attempts to seek financial help, noting that she sent a letter to her estranged husband requesting support, but received no response.

'Yes, their father should be providing. I agree. That’s why I wrote him a letter asking for financial support. He read it. He ignored it. He said nothing. His family said nothing. Till today, silence.'

Challenging critics who suggest she shouldn't bear the burden alone, she posed direct questions about alternatives.

'So now I want to genuinely ask those who keep talking: Since I 'shouldn’t carry the burden alone,' what exactly should I do? Drop my children on the main road and go and live my life? Hand them over to someone who has chosen to be absent? Return them to a situation I left to protect them?'

She emphasized that single parenting was not a voluntary choice and that efforts at communication had failed, 'People talk like single parenting is a choice I woke up and made for fun. As if I didn’t first try communication. As if responsibility can be forced on a man who has decided to be mute.'

In a poignant plea, Ada Igbo questioned how to compel an unwilling parent to participate. 'This is a sincere question: How do you make a man who has chosen to be a deadbeat suddenly become involved in his children’s lives? Because from where I’m standing, I didn’t choose to do this alone. I was left with no other safe option.'

She concluded by affirming her commitment to her children despite societal judgment. 'And until someone gives me a realistic answer, I will continue choosing my children over people’s opinions.'

With Christmas approaching, she added a note of desperation: 'It’s 4 days to Christmas and I decided to scream out hopefully I get help.'