Kikelomo Atanda-Owo: How past experiences shaped my path to Reuben Abati

Atanda-Owo also expressed gratitude for her children, describing them as her "greatest investments."

She said, “I’m so happy to be here to explain to other women and people behind me to understand that love can find you again. I’m a woman who has been divorced twice. I allowed it the best way I could. And my scars, I’ve been burnt, but my scars have healed, and I’ve found victory. And in that victory, there is healing first. So you must first see yourself before you can align with someone else.

“For a woman who has been divorced twice, first off, I married a gay person without me knowing. Let me put it out there. And the second one was the biggest philandering abuser. She (Morayo) knows part of the story. And today, looking back, I have no regrets whatsoever because when I look at my children, I say to myself, ‘How better would I have had the children if not through these experiences?’ So God blessed me with the greatest investment of my life.”

Offering advice to both women and men, she emphasised that someone may seem reasonable, but not be right for them, highlighting the importance of finding a partner who truly suits them.

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“You must find somebody who will align with your journey. And I think that’s the reason why the universe provided me with one of the greatest, most prominent voices Africa has ever produced. And today, when I’m telling my story, I’m thankful and grateful to God that I had a man who saw my value. I had a man who met me when I had clarity, when I had purpose.

“Many people out there sometimes find themselves in certain relationships because of what the world will say, because of how you feel depressed with yourself, how you got to that place. You must first of all understand yourself, why you make the choices you make and the patterns that you make,” said Ms Atanda-Owo.

Atanda-Owo also revealed that she previously equated a man's expression of love with a proposal of marriage.

She clarified that she does not condemn individuals for their sexual orientation but emphasised that those who are gay should be truthful and not engage in deception.

She said, “My parents never lived under the same roof. And at some point, when my dad relocated, I was living in a different house where my grandmother, Alhaja, passed away. And at that point, when you tell me you love me, automatically, it means you want to marry me.

“So, every guy that comes my way and says you love me, I believe them. Even though we are in the season of love, like my husband said, I think that love is not enough.”

The mother also urged individuals in abusive relationships to seek help, emphasising that there is hope after hardship.