Uriel Oputa reveals she started cooking at age 9 under her strict Igbo mother, sharing how her upbringing shaped her life skills
Former Big Brother Naija housemate Uriel Oputa has opened up about her childhood, crediting her strict Igbo mother for teaching her to cook at the age of nine.
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Uriel shared the story while responding to a fan’s message on Instagram, praising her for being both beautiful and skilled in the kitchen. The fan wrote: “How you come take fine as this comes still sabi cook.”
In reply, the reality star revealed she was never given a soft life growing up, saying: “Blame my Igbo mother. She never gave me the soft life. I started cooking at the age of 9.”
Her post highlighted the discipline and responsibilities she had as a child, which helped her develop early culinary skills.
The revelation sparked reactions from netizens, with many relating to similar childhood experiences of learning household chores under strict parenting.
Comments ranged from amusement to nostalgia. @ememfuro joked about “Nepo babies,” while @ucflamez reflected on the early involvement of children in cooking before modern distractions like social media.
Uriel Oputa’s story also ties into her broader reflections on adulthood.
She previously expressed challenges in the Nigerian dating scene, discussing her struggles with age shaming and the difficulty of finding a decent partner.
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Despite the pressures, Uriel credits her upbringing for shaping her resilience and practical skills, which she continues to embrace today.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
