Nollywood Star Thanks Ex-Husband for Gift of Motherhood

When a celebrity publicly thanks an ex after a messy breakup, it's a reminder that healing and peace are always possible.

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh shared a heartfelt Mother's Day message on Instagram thanking her former husband, businessman Olakunle Churchill, for giving her the gift of motherhood. The tribute marks a dramatic shift from their highly publicized 2017 divorce.

"Thank you, my Gee, for making me a mother," Dikeh wrote in her Instagram Story. "One of the most beautiful part of my story, and happy mothers day to your amazing mother."

The actress, who now works as an evangelist, called Churchill her friend and asked for God's blessings on him. Her post sparked immediate reactions from followers, with some criticizing her for being too generous toward her ex.

Dikeh quickly defended her gratitude, explaining it comes from a deeply personal place. "For the only man who has put a child in me?" she wrote back to critics. "How would you understand the meaning of joy/peace that makes no sense, how would you understand healthy co-parenting, if I don't show you all."

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine is the courage it takes to choose peace over bitterness. Dikeh and Churchill's split wasn't quiet or easy. Their 2017 separation played out publicly with accusations and hurt feelings splashed across social media and tabloids.

But somewhere between then and now, two parents decided their child deserved better than ongoing conflict. Dikeh recently revealed they've "buried the hatchet," choosing cooperation over competition.

Churchill has since remarried his former personal assistant Rosy Meurer in 2021. The couple now has two children together, born in 2021 and 2022. Instead of letting his new family become a source of tension, Dikeh even extended Mother's Day wishes to Churchill's mother.

The actress's message shows what healthy co-parenting can look like when both parents put their child first. It doesn't erase the past or pretend the pain never happened. It simply chooses gratitude for what was good: in this case, the precious gift of their son.

For anyone navigating the choppy waters of co-parenting after divorce, Dikeh's public thank you offers a roadmap: acknowledge the good, release the bad, and focus on the child who needs both parents at peace.

Sometimes the bravest thing former partners can do is say thank you.