Childcare row wrecks Nigerian couple’s marriage in UK

A 30-year-old Nigerian mother of two, Halima, has shared her emotional journey of returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom following the breakdown of her marriage.

Alimat initially relocated to the UK in 2022 alongside her two children to join her ex-husband, who was residing in the country on a student visa while she and the children held dependant status.

Broken agreement and marital friction

According to Halima, the couple had reached a mutual agreement prior to leaving Nigeria: she would work extensive hours to cover her husband’s university tuition and handle general household expenses. 

She successfully fulfilled her part of the deal, contributing significantly to his school fees and later helping him purchase a personal vehicle after he graduated and transitioned to a full-time work visa.

However, the relationship deteriorated once the husband secured full-time employment. Halima alleged that he began objecting to her work schedule, claiming she prioritised employment over caring for their children. 

She explained that she was repeatedly forced to cancel lucrative work shifts because her husband would book last-minute personal appointments, leaving her with no choice but to stay home with the kids.

She added that during arguments, he frequently reminded her that he brought her to the UK and accused her of being ungrateful.

Relocation back to Nigeria

Internal efforts to resolve the conflict failed after a relative of the husband sided with him and blamed her for the strain in the marriage. 

Following the failure of family interventions, Halima filed for divorce and officially moved back to Nigeria with her two children in July 2026.

Concluding her narrative in a video shared online, Halima revealed that she has since established her independence and is successfully rebuilding her life back home in Nigeria.

Read Also: ‘How my fairy-tale marriage to Briton crashed in two months- UK-based Nigerian Lady