Reality TV star and former Big Brother Naija housemate, Hermes Iyele, has shared a deeply personal chapter of his life, shedding light on the harsh realities he and his siblings endured during their formative years and the emotional growth that followed.
In a heartfelt interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the 28-year-old recounted how his family was thrown into crisis after his father, once employed with UNICEF, lost his job and was forced to become a commercial bus driver to survive. This marked the beginning of a painful period that saw the family move into an unfinished building and eventually led to their mother walking out of their lives.
Hermes revealed that his mother, unable to cope with the sudden hardship, left one night and did not return for seven long years, a silence that left a lasting emotional void. Still, rather than harbour resentment, Hermes has chosen compassion.
“My father raised us with so much love. He was a lover,” he said, painting a picture of a man who, despite being abandoned by his partner, remained grounded in affection and commitment to his children. Hermes described his father as the anchor of their fractured home, doing everything in his power to fill the emotional and physical gaps left behind.
Reflecting on his mother’s departure, Hermes offered a remarkably mature and empathetic perspective: “My mum did what she did from a place of survival. I can’t fault her for that.” He acknowledged that their marriage was far from peaceful, and in many ways, she may have simply reached a breaking point.