Maje Ayida Opens Up on Battling Depression After Divorce from Toke Makinwa
Fitness expert and media personality Maje Ayida has opened up about the deep depression he faced following his high-profile divorce from Nollywood actress Toke Makinwa.
In a video shared from a UK church appearance that gained traction on Tuesday, Ayida spoke honestly about the emotional aftermath of the separation. He revealed that the intense public spotlight left him feeling humiliated and drove him into isolation.
“I went through a divorce that led me into depression. It was very public, and I felt incredibly alone,” Ayida confessed. “I pulled away from everyone because I was ashamed—not just for myself but for what I thought I’d done to my family’s name. Legacy matters to me, and I felt like I’d tarnished it.”
The experience took a toll on his mental health and career. Ayida said he stopped working, missed out on business deals, and struggled with basic day-to-day tasks.
“I lost my motivation,” he said. “I couldn’t even find the will to get out of bed. It felt like everyone had formed an opinion about me, and I started losing focus—and income.”
The entrepreneur admitted that losing his professional identity was particularly damaging: “As a man, your work becomes part of who you are. When I began losing that, things spiraled.”
He described living in a state of hopelessness for nearly a year, plagued by insomnia and paranoia. “I couldn’t sleep. I became overly suspicious—any time I went out, I imagined people were talking about me. That would send me right back indoors.”
Ayida eventually reached a turning point. “I decided I couldn’t keep living like that. I started researching how to manage depression, and the first thing I found was ‘accountability.’ I had to accept my part in everything. It made me feel worse initially, but it was the beginning of real healing.”
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