Controversial Nigerian socialite Pretty Mike has disclosed that his covenant with pregnant women to see them liberated spurred his recent stunt where he was seen at a wedding with 6 pregnant women.
Last week, the club owner was at the wedding of actor, Williams Uchemba, with six pregnant ladies and the move became the subject of many discussions across social media.
In an interview with The Punch, Pretty Mike, claimed that his motive was to bring attention to the plight of pregnant women.
He said,
“I came up with the concept because I am surrounded by ladies. Because of the publicity this incident has garnered, I am about to start a foundation for pregnant women. We are in a country that stereotypes women. No woman can get a job when she is pregnant.
So, the question is, how would they survive, especially in this period when COVID-19 has sacked some husbands or partners from their jobs? Even if a woman is qualified, once the employer finds out she is pregnant, she would not be considered for the job.
“Who speaks up for them or the single ladies that are pregnant? Society, government, parents and even the church have pushed them out. To some people, this is all a joke but there are many pregnant women that do not have people to speak out for them.
They have been stigmatised and many of them are depressed. Now that I have brought them out, some people are celebrating me while some are castigating me, saying it’s an abomination. Since that incident, many pregnant women have reached out to me, asking for financial assistance or jobs.
I was inspired to do that when a friend got pregnant and her boyfriend and family members abandoned her. When she came to see me, she disclosed how much she had struggled and I felt pained.
“As a matter of fact, one of the ladies is happily married. Her spouse has not been working since the pandemic started and she is also not working.
So when I called her to follow me to the event, even her husband was happy. This act has given other pregnant ladies the confidence to reach out to me.
The pregnant ladies are all my friends. They all gave their consent. However, some of them have faced backlashes.”