Nigerian media mogul and blogger Linda Ikeji has spoken out about her decision to give her son her surname instead of his father’s name.
On Tuesday, Linda faced criticism for naming her son, Jayce Ikeji, after herself instead of her baby daddy’s name, Sholaye Jeremi.
The blogger had shared a photo of her six-year-old son and his cousin, Ryan Kanu, who is nearly the same age, while they were on vacation.
She wrote, “Jayce Ikeji and Ryan Kanu take Disney/Marvel Paris. Cousins, best friends, and literally growing up together as brothers. Their love for each other is incredible, and when they can help it, are inseparable! Ryan is literally the best little human ever! They’ve been on a few vacations together in the past, but this is the first one they will remember as they are nearly 6 and 7 now.”
Fans quickly noticed that she used her last name for her son, sparking controversy.
Addressing the issue on her Instagram story, Linda clarified that her son has always had her surname since birth.
She explained that she never had the time or patience to change names and that the decision to keep or change his surname in the future would be up to her son.
Linda wrote, “Just to be clear. I’ve never ever had to change my son’s surname. He’s been an Ikeji right from when he was born! Where do I have the time or patience to be changing names? Changing it and keeping his surname (Ikeji) will be up to him when he ages. Food for my Junior colleagues”.
KanyiDaily recalls that Linda Ikeji had revealed how her son’s father, Jeremi Sholaye dumped her when she was pregnant.