Big Brother Naija star Hermes Iyele has shared the emotional story of his mother’s disappearance during his childhood, revealing she abandoned the family for seven years after his father’s financial situation collapsed.
In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the 28-year-old reality star opened up about his family’s struggle and how his father, once a UNICEF employee, eventually became a bus driver to make ends meet.
“My dad was working with UNICEF before he started driving a bus. We had to move into an uncompleted building, but my mum said she couldn’t move in with us,” Hermes recalled.
“She left that night and didn’t come back until seven years later. We were pretty young when she left because things got hard, and she couldn’t cope.”
Despite the trauma, Hermes said he holds no bitterness toward his mother and credits his father for raising him and his siblings with love and resilience.
“My father raised us with so much love. He was a lover,” he said.
“The thing about love is, it’s the reason I still have so much love for my mum regardless.“My dad and my mum didn’t have a happy marriage. They had three children together. But I know that my mum did what she did from a place of survival. I can’t fault her for that.”
Hermes has previously spoken about his longing for maternal affection. In a 2023 appearance on The Nancy Isime Show, he shared how he often imagined his mother showing up at school events like other children’s mothers.
“My entire life was longing to have her around,” he said.
“I would be in school and see people’s mums come for PTA and I’d think, ‘Oh my God, my mum is so pretty… if she came here I would have so many friends.’ It never happened.”
Sadly, Hermes lost his mother, Isioma Iyele, in November 2024. He announced her passing in an emotional post, writing: “You said God would come. And he did.” The news drew an outpouring of sympathy from fans and fellow celebrities.
Hermes rose to fame during the BBNaija Level Up season in 2022, gaining attention for his expressive fashion, striking piercings, contemporary dance background, and openness about his polyamorous relationship.
