Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has explained why he remains unmarried at 52, saying he still hopes to marry and have children but is unwilling to become a father outside wedlock.
The rapper made the disclosure during a recent interview, reflecting on how years of pursuing his music career and a failed relationship affected his plans to settle down.
According to Ruggedman, he had always wanted to build a family but found that time passed quickly as he concentrated on establishing himself in the entertainment industry.
“I am one of those who got into the industry back in the day where all we had was our hustle and we faced it and before you know it, time was gone,” he said.
He also compared his experience with that of fellow musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, noting that the singer had found partners willing to share his journey.
“2baba was lucky to have found partners who were ready to walk that road with him, I wasn’t that lucky,” Ruggedman said.
The rapper disclosed that he once spent five years in a relationship he believed would lead to marriage, but the union ended before they could take that step.
“I had a five year relationship that I thought would lead to marriage but something happened and it crashed,” he said.
Ruggedman added that he is currently not in a relationship. However, he maintained that his circumstances have not changed his position on having children.
“The only thing I vowed is that I will never have a child out of wedlock,” he said.
Despite being 52, the rapper dismissed the suggestion that he might have missed his opportunity to marry, insisting that he remains hopeful about finding a partner and starting a family.
“No, I don’t think it’s too late. It’s never too late. As long as you are alive, it’s never too late to get married,” he said.
