From Iyabo Ojo’s daughter to Tanzania’s ‘biggest bride’: Priscilla Ojo’s journey to motherhood 

The talks around the marriage of Iyabo Ojo’s daughter, Priscilla, to a Tanzanian singer, Juma Jux, continued to dominate the rave of the moment till now after the talk-of-the-town marriage earlier this year. 

From Nigerian trends to Tanzania’s big parties, almost everything around the actress’s daughter continues to make headlines. 

 But this was no ordinary Nigerian fairytale. From the first whispers of romance to cross-border ceremonies and a newborn cradled in her arms, Priscilla Ojo’s journey has unfolded like a series Nigerians never stopped binge-watching. 

Every step, every photo, every shift was tracked, debated, and celebrated in equal measure by the online fans, juries, and critics.

From private romance to public love

The first photos of Priscilla Ojo and Tanzanian singer, Juma Jux, together came out in July 2024 and felt almost staged, followed by casual matching outfits that still screamed intention, the kind of soft launches that fans instantly picked apart.

For weeks, netizens speculated whether this was a fling, a business arrangement, or something more lasting.

When the couple finally confirmed their romance, it split opinion down familiar lines. On X, @obuhmercy cheered: “Congratulations, baby girl and welcome to Nigeria our in-law.” Another user, @just_joy_ari, simply gushed: “They look so cute, Omg, may this end in marriage and beautiful kids.”

But not everyone was convinced. A wary follower, @aranmolatemariam, warned Jux directly: “Do not joke with our sister’s feelings cus if you do you go collect. She is very precious to us.”

Others raised concerns about the speed and age gap in the relationship. @onosowobo admitted: “I don’t like seeing a 24-year-old woman marrying a 34-year-old man she met less than a year ago, whose best mate is Diamond.”

Another critic, @Bolanle12242742, pointed out the hurdles ahead: “She would have to learn a new language, make new friends. Juma lives with his mom and sister… she will now be forced to love his family as much as she does Juma. She is really in for it.”

The debates weren’t all cynical, though. Some fans interpreted her decisions through the lens of Iyabo Ojo’s parenting. @codewwaffle reflected: “I think she just wants to be married, she’s probably aware of all that may come with it. Her mum has said it before that she must be married by 25.”

In a way, it was a generational script already playing out online.

A single mother’s blessing

If there was one person whose approval mattered above all, it was Iyabo Ojo. The actress, long celebrated by her fans as one of Nollywood’s most resilient single mothers, seemed radiant as she appeared in photos and videos with Jux and Priscilla.

Fans quickly folded her into the story, seeing her joy as their own. @viscountess_ayobami wrote warmly: “There’s no mother who wouldn’t be thrilled to see this. Congratulations to you and the lovely couple!” Another, @lemmilian_asa, called her victory personal: “Another single mother wins at life. All your sacrifices won’t go in vain ma, your children will bring you great joy and happiness.”

But as always, there was scepticism. Some couldn’t understand the grand welcome extended to Jux in Nigeria. @tatiana_landrous scoffed: “Only for boyfriend, not even husband, you guyz are funny.”

Others, like @iamlovecrush72, questioned whether Priscilla had received the same honour when she first visited Tanzania: “Was she welcomed like this when she went to his country? Una too like to dey do over sabi.”

The blessing had been given, but in true Nigerian fashion, the debate over its worth carried on.

From Naija’s Priscilla to Hadiza in Dar Salam: A critics’ show

Perhaps the most contentious chapter came when news broke that Priscilla had converted to Islam, adopting the name Hadiza, reportedly at her husband’s urging. For some, it was simply a natural step in an interfaith marriage, especially marrying a Northern African man, where Islam is a regional faith.

But for some critics, it was a red flag. 

@Jokotade_ng argued: “Changing your religion for marriage is fine, where I draw the line is changing your name. That’s your identity for crying out loud nau.”

@Happinezz5 added: “That’s totally unacceptable. I wonder how one would change her parent-given name in the name of marriage. It’s not hard to spot an autocratic man.”

A different perspective from another critic, @EnchantedBrat23, connected it to age: “See why women say that before 25, your frontal lobe is not developed. All this within one year. It is well.”

The romance, once wrapped in fairy dust, was beginning to draw harder questions.

However, these were followed by a Nikkah in Tanzania — an event many netizens criticised as turning the culture upside down. 

“Nikkah wey everyone dey do for wife side, e reach your turn una turn am upside down,” one @__Priestt quipped. 

As if that wasn’t enough, the Lagos proposal and diamond upgrade came with a lot more social media frenzy. 

From fans enjoying the Lagos spectacle with them, clips and pools of beautiful megapixels on the internet, to critics picking fault in the diamond ring. 

 “This ring doesn’t guarantee a successful marriage. A wooden ring would have been better to save money,” @EMZO_001 wrote

But for the couple, the Lagos proposal sealed what the Nikkah had already confirmed: this was a love story plotted to play out on different sides of the African map: West and North.

Rakeem in ‘bump’ and arms

Months after the weddings, when Priscilla debuted her baby bump in a soft-glam photo shoot, it was Instagram that broke first.

She neither blurred her hands nor hid her glow. Friends and fans started pouring in under the post. @layoleoyatogun was straight to the point: “Thank you Lord!!! My baby is having a BABy!! while @kie_kie__ teased “Yayyyyyy! New mom on the block.” Others simply swooned, and in a clip that made the rounds, Priscilla’s close friend, @enioluwaofficial, laughed at himself for missing the signs entirely: “I sincerely did not know.”  

It felt like the whole internet had been waiting to weigh in, as if the pregnancy was the ultimate proof of seriousness. 

The bubbles around the pregnancy unveiling, which came with different cross-border parties featuring gender reveal, haven’t completely faded away. Iyabo Ojo’s grandson is here. 

Priscilla and Jux welcomed their son, Rakeem. 

The news was accompanied by photos and videos of Iyabo Ojo cradling the grandson in her arms. And within 24 hours, Tribune Online reports that the newborn gained 144,000 followers on Instagram. 

For fans, the moments captured both pride and resignation. “Iyabo Ojo is now Grandma… Wow, Congratulations to them,” @Oloruntoba2580 wrote.

 Another Instagram user chimed in: “Big congratulations to Iyabo Ojo, now a proud grandma! Her daughter, Priscilla, welcomed a beautiful baby boy!”

But in familiar Nigerian fashion, the side comments kept rolling, somewhat funny. @favourite54043 was just inquisitive, “Can someone explain it’s not up to 1 month they got married and belle don enter how ???” 

One X user, @ms___dale, questioned how quickly the delivery-room photo went up, arguing it was too soon while the medical team might still be attending to Priscilla saying, “Never seen where they’d post Baby Arrival pictures, when the doctors aren’t even done stitching the mom up.”

The pushback joined the cheers, as social media does — noisy, protective, occasionally petty.

Priscilla Ojo’s journey from daughter to bride and now mother has been anything but private.

Every stage has been punctuated by voices, some cheering, some warning, some mocking, but all bearing witness.

Still, the photos of Iyabo’s smile with her grandson silenced most doubts. For all the debates, criticisms, and cautious hopes, the actress’s family has now expanded. Yes, to the far North. 

  

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