A young Nigerian woman has gone public with a startling accusation against her mother, alleging she is being pressured to marry a married man with six children as a form of repayment after he covered the cost of her WAEC (West African Examinations Council) fees.
The woman, identified simply as Sandra to protect her privacy, shared her experience in a viral TikTok video earlier this week, prompting widespread outrage and debate over the ethics of forced marriage and transactional relationships disguised as help.
According to Sandra, the man, reportedly in his late 40s, financed her secondary school examination fees two years ago. She claims her mother is now insisting she marry him, arguing that it’s the only way to “honor” his financial support.
“I never asked him to pay my fees,” Sandra said in the emotional video. “Now my own mother is saying I owe him my life. How is that fair? He already has a wife and six children. I want to live my own life.”
The situation has sparked intense discussion online, with many Nigerians criticizing the exploitation of vulnerable young women and questioning the role of parental consent in such arrangements.
Women’s rights advocate and lawyer, Barrister Kemi Odumosu, weighed in on the case: “This is a clear case of coercion and a violation of the young woman’s rights. Financial help should never become a bargaining chip for marriage, especially to someone already in a legally binding union.”
The man at the center of the controversy has not made any public statement, and attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Sandra said she is currently staying with a friend after leaving her family home, and is seeking legal advice and psychological support.
“I want to be educated, independent, and free to choose who I love. I’m speaking out not just for myself but for other girls going through the same thing in silence,” she said.
Human rights groups have since called for an investigation into the matter, urging authorities to take stronger action against forced and underage marriages disguised as cultural obligations.
