Oluwafunbi Bello 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A Nigerian woman battling cancer sparks widespread debate after publicly seeking a second wife for her husband, citing love, sacrifice and a desire to preserve family happiness.
Kemisola Mustapha, a trader and mother of three, turns to social media in a nine-month search for a co-wife, explaining that her illness limits her ability to fulfil marital responsibilities.
In a video shared on TikTok and seen by reporters on Saturday, Mustapha says she is motivated by gratitude for her husband’s sacrifices since her diagnosis in 2024. “This request is from the bottom of my heart,” she says. “My mind is totally open to it.”
She describes her husband as supportive, revealing that he sells most of his properties to fund her cancer treatment. “My husband is a very good man. He has really tried for me,” Mustapha says. “Sexually, I am depriving my husband of a lot of things. There are many things I cannot do again because of my health. I want my husband to be happy again.”
Mustapha says she is seeking a woman of good character—educated, loving, faithful and peaceful—who will care for both her husband and children.
Her search briefly halts after another woman warns that a co-wife might exploit her illness. However, she resumes the effort, insisting the decision is not driven by fear of death.
“I am not dying. I am not giving up anytime soon,” she says. “I am doing this because of the love I have for my husband and children.”
She reveals that her husband initially rejects the idea but eventually agrees after repeated discussions. The couple later formalises the arrangement through a legal undertaking.
Her story ignites conversations nationwide about marriage, illness, sacrifice and evolving family structures in contemporary Nigerian society.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius