Hermes Chibueze Iyele, the 2022 Big Brother Naija star, has opened up about his relationship with his late mother.
In an interview on WithChude, the reality TV star revealed that his father once worked with UNICEF and travelled the world, but later became a bus driver after going broke.
He said the financial downturn forced them to live in an incomplete building, a situation his mum couldn’t endure.
Hermes recounted how his mother Isioma Phebian Iyele left one night when the hardship became unbearable and didn’t return for seven years, leaving his father to single-handedly raise him and his siblings. Despite her absence, Hermes harbors no resentment.
The reality star added that he doesn’t fault his mum for leaving, acknowledging that she probably just did what was best for herself.
My father worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and traveled the world, but ended up being a bus driver, he said.
I don’t know why he went broke, probably mismanagement of funds, but I don’t know the full story, and that’s what led to my mum leaving.
They had to move into an uncompleted building, but my mum said she couldn’t move in with us, so 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.
My father raised us with so much love and did it quite well. The thing about love, and how my father taught us to love, is the reason I still have so much love for my mum, regardless.
My parents didn’t have a happy marriage, so she probably made the decision that was best for her. I can’t fault her for that.
In 2023, the choreographer recounted how his mother’s absence while growing up affected him.
Hermes lost his mum in November 2024.
