A Nigerian man who publicly declared he never wants children has shared five reasons for his decision, two of which he described as selfish and three as selfless, sparking a wave of reactions on social media.
Man Lists Reasons for Not Wanting Children
Identified as @lanre.oj on TikTok, the young man outlined his reasoning in a video that has since gone viral. According to him, one of the primary reasons is financial: “Number 1, I don’t want to share my money. When you have a child, you’re locked into a financial commitment for at least 20 years and that does not sound like a good time. Count me out.”
His second reason was the possibility that he might end up not liking his own child. Thirdly, he stated that there is no guarantee he would live long enough to complete his responsibilities as a father. The video was captioned: “5 reasons I will not bring children into this world.”
Reactions from Social Media Users
The video drew a wide range of comments. User Joyhelen commented, “Your reasons are so valid I regret having kids.” Another user, TaT, wrote, “20 years maybe?! Uh uh I’m 27 and my mommy still send me money ?? the parenting never ends!!!”
Taurus girl joked, “Please come to me. Let get married ? when we’re lonely we adopt a child. When we’re back to our spark ⚡️we return the child to orphanage.” Aisha, age 35 and childless, said, “I love my peace. I love keeping my hair, nails, & lashes done. I love having my money to myself. I can afford a child, but I don’t want to.”
On the other hand, Baganizi, a father of one, expressed a different view: “I'm a father of 1.... wish i had 30 more!! i will choose fatherhood any day any time. rough, at times but im good!”
Another user, aisha, added, “Lastly, I don’t like noise. Very simple. You’re trying to sleep, noise. You’re watching tv, noise. Nopretty.” User pretty ? said, “I can’t see my self going through that pain any day and I really don’t like new born babies because they cry too much. I’m going to adopt a 12 yrs old when am 40.”
PPJ resonated with one of the reasons: “'I don't have the capacity for unconditional love' is a bar. I don't either?. I think there's something wrong with me. I don't know how people do it. I need you on your best behavior to even like you.”
Broader Context: Childlessness Among Nigerians
This is not the first time a Nigerian has publicly shared a decision to remain childless. Previously, a Nigerian female pilot went viral after explaining why she did not want children, citing her work schedule. Her reasons also sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting her choice and others encouraging her to reconsider.
According to a report by Legit.ng, the pilot’s video highlighted the challenges of balancing a demanding career with parenting, a sentiment echoed by many working professionals. The trend reflects a growing conversation around voluntary childlessness in Nigeria, particularly among young adults.
