Fitness entrepreneur and media personality, Maje Ayida, has for the first time spoken candidly about the emotional toll his high-profile divorce from media personality Toke Makinwa took on his mental health. In a deeply personal and heartfelt revelation, Ayida disclosed that he suffered from severe depression that lasted over a year, leading to professional setbacks, emotional isolation, and social paranoia.
In a now-viral video clip recorded during a testimony at a UK church, the renowned wellness coach opened up about how the divorce not only strained his personal life but also affected his family’s reputation, business, and psychological wellbeing.
“I went through a very publicised divorce and that left me feeling very alone. I withdrew from society. I was really ashamed of my situation—not just for myself, but because legacy is very important to me. I was ashamed of what I felt I had done to my family’s name,” Ayida confessed.
Ayida, known for his work in the Nigerian health and fitness industry, shared that the emotional fallout was not limited to personal pain. He became reclusive, avoided people, stopped going to work, and lost several business opportunities.
“As a man, your work is your identity,” he said. “And I started to lose that—work, business deals. It became a real problem. I couldn’t sleep. I was paranoid. Every time I went out, I imagined everyone was judging me. So I stopped going out altogether.”
He also spoke about experiencing insomnia, paranoia, and the constant mental noise of shame, all of which pushed him into a deeper hole of hopelessness.
“I checked out of life for a whole year. I lost the motivation to even get out of bed. I asked myself, ‘What am I getting up for? Everyone already feels a certain way about me.’”
In a turning point, Ayida said he began to research ways to deal with his depression and discovered that accountability was key to his healing process.
“It was hard to take the blame, but when I did, I began to find peace. It made me feel worse at first, but over time, I started taking practical steps towards recovery.”
Ayida’s testimony has sparked a broader conversation about mental health, masculinity, and emotional vulnerability, especially in the African context where societal expectations often pressure men to suppress emotional distress.
Maje Ayida and Toke Makinwa married in 2014, but their marriage collapsed in 2016 amidst allegations of infidelity and betrayal. In 2017, Ayida filed a N100 million defamation lawsuit against Makinwa over her memoir, “On Becoming,” in which she chronicled their tumultuous relationship.
In a landmark ruling in 2020, a Lagos High Court found parts of Makinwa’s book defamatory. The court awarded N500,000 in damages each from the 1st and 2nd defendants, to be paid to a charity organization of Ayida’s choosing, and barred further publication of the offending content.
While Ayida has remained largely out of the spotlight since the court case, his recent testimony has triggered a wave of empathy from fans and mental health advocates, many of whom applauded his courage in sharing his struggle.
“It’s not easy for a Nigerian man to admit he battled depression, especially from a failed marriage. Maje just became a voice for countless men suffering in silence,” said Ifeoma Uzor, a mental health advocate based in Lagos.
His story adds to the growing body of voices challenging toxic masculinity and societal expectations that equate vulnerability with weakness.
Ayida now appears to be in a better place emotionally and mentally, choosing to use his experience to inspire others. He hinted at plans to become more vocal about men’s mental health, possibly through community engagement and speaking opportunities.
As society begins to better understand the silent battles fought by many, especially men who are often discouraged from speaking up, Maje Ayida’s story may well become a beacon of hope and healing.