“Mum Left and Never Looked Back”—BBNaija Star Hermes Shares Painful Childhood Secret

In a deeply emotional revelation, reality TV personality Hermes Iyele has opened up about the hardships his family faced following a dramatic downturn in their financial situation. During a recent interview with media host Chude, the former Big Brother Naija housemate shared personal details about his upbringing, including his mother’s decision to abandon the family when life took a difficult turn.

According to Hermes, his father, who was once employed by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), lost his job and eventually became a commercial bus driver in an effort to support the family. As the financial strain intensified, the family was forced to relocate to an unfinished building—an arrangement that reportedly drove his mother to leave.

He recalled that his mother walked out one night and did not return until seven years later. At the time, Hermes and his siblings were still very young and had to grow up in her absence.

Despite the pain, Hermes said he harbors no resentment toward his mother. He credited his father with stepping up to raise the children with immense love and emotional strength, describing him as “a lover” who did his best to keep the family intact under challenging circumstances.

He admitted that his parents did not enjoy a happy marriage, and although his mother’s actions left a deep impact, he believes she acted out of desperation and the instinct to survive. “I know that my mum did what she did from a place of survival. I can’t fault her for that,” he said.

The 28-year-old emphasized that the difficult experiences of his past have shaped his outlook on love and forgiveness, explaining that his father’s compassion continues to influence the way he views both of his parents.