MI Abaga Explains Why He Chose to Marry at 41

Nigerian rapper and music executive, Jude Abaga, popularly known as MI Abaga, has opened up about why he waited until the age of 41 to get married. Speaking during a recent appearance on the Jay On Air Podcast, the award-winning artiste explained that emotional maturity and personal timing were central to his decision.

The rapper, who tied the knot with Eniola Mafe in 2022, said he had moments in his late thirties where he felt regret, especially when he compared his life journey with peers who had married much earlier.

According to him, he was 37 when he realized many of his friends who married in their mid-twenties were already raising teenage children. That realization made him question his own life’s timing.

However, he noted that things became clearer when he exited a previous relationship at 39. Shortly after, he met Eniola, who would become his wife. She was present at his 40th birthday celebration, and it was then that he began to see himself as ready for marriage.

“I felt like I had just become ready, emotionally and mentally,” he said. “At 40, she was there on my birthday, and I just knew this was the person.”

MI stressed that while he once viewed his late marriage with uncertainty, he now believes everyone has their own unique timeline in life. He cautioned against societal pressure to marry early, saying emotional readiness should take precedence over arbitrary age targets.

He also reflected on his past relationships, acknowledging that he had been immature and stubborn in his earlier years. Despite this, he expressed gratitude to the women he had dated previously, saying they had played important roles in his growth and self-awareness.

“Everybody’s timeline is different,” he said. “I had to grow into the person I needed to be before I could make that kind of commitment.”

MI Abaga’s marriage to Eniola was widely celebrated in 2022, with fans and fellow celebrities hailing the couple’s union. His story has since resonated with many who believe in taking life at one’s own pace and prioritizing emotional intelligence over external expectations.