Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mercy Aigbe Adeoti has opened up about the challenges she faced from some family members when she decided to remarry.
The actress, who has built a successful career in the Nigerian film industry, became the center of public discourse in 2022 when she confirmed her relationship with renowned movie marketer Kazim Adeoti.
Kazim, a father of four from a previous marriage, had been the subject of speculation for weeks before Mercy officially acknowledged their relationship. Their union stirred controversy, especially after Mercy converted to Islam, adopting the Muslim name Hajia Minnah.
While the backlash from the public was intense, Mercy revealed that even within her family, some relatives questioned her decision to remarry, particularly because of her age. In a candid conversation on Iriri Mi, a talk show hosted by fellow actress Bimpe Akintunde, Mercy shared how she faced resistance but remained firm in her choice.
She explained that some of her family members wondered why she was choosing marriage again at nearly 50 years old. However, she stood her ground, believing that everyone has the right to decide what makes them happy.
“I love love, actually,” she admitted during the interview. “A lot of people, including some family members, have asked me, ‘You’re close to 50; what are you looking for?’ But I believe everyone knows what they want. What you want might be different from mine. I know what I saw, and I know what I wanted.”
She further explained that being married was something she deeply valued. “I am the kind of person who loves to have a crown—a husband—on my head. Maybe if I had remained in my baby daddy’s house, I wouldn’t be known as Mercy Aigbe today.”
Despite the intense scrutiny surrounding her marriage, Mercy remains unbothered by the negative public opinions that have followed her decision. She described much of the criticism as mere “noise” and stated that she refuses to let it affect her happiness.
Addressing specific claims that she has taken control of her husband’s decisions, the actress dismissed such talk as baseless. “People will always talk,” she said. “But when people talk about you, it means you are doing something right. If you’re not known, you won’t be their topic. You have to be at the top to be a topic.”
Reflecting on her journey, Mercy expressed gratitude for how her life has unfolded, despite the challenges she has faced. She acknowledged that fame and success come with their fair share of criticism, but she has learned to rise above it.
“When I was young, I never thought my life would turn out this way,” she admitted. “But here I am today, happy with my choices, and that’s all that matters.”
For Mercy, love, happiness, and personal fulfillment outweigh the noise of public opinion, and she remains steadfast in her belief that everyone should live life on their own terms.
