Chude Jideonwo, the Nigerian media personality, says he wrote his will at 30 after reflecting on death, his mother and the charity he supports.

In an interview on Beyond With Ezinne, Jideonwo explained how journaling helped him make the decision. He started the practice in 2015 after a clinical depression diagnosis. His therapist had advised him to journal.

“After being diagnosed with clinical depression, I started therapy, and my therapist told me to journal. So, in 2015, I journaled like a mad person, writing about things and people I love, how I like to be loved, things I’m insecure about, and the six things I’m afraid of,” he said.

How journaling led to his will

Jideonwo said the exercise pushed him to examine his fears. He began to consider the worst that could happen if those fears came true. This eventually led him to think about death and what he wanted to leave behind.

“I thought, ‘What’s the worst that will happen if these things happen?’ I found out that the worst that could happen was dying. So, I thought, ‘What’s the worst that will happen when I die?’ That led me to write my will in 2015 or 2016, when I was 30 or 31, because I thought about what I wanted to leave for my mother and the NGO I contribute to.”

He explained that his mother and the NGO he supports influenced his decision. He wanted to consider what would happen to the things he valued after his death.

Jideonwo reflects on having children

The journaling exercise also made Jideonwo question his views on marriage and parenthood. He said he realised he did not want children, although he might change his mind.

“…I also wrote down, ‘Who do I want to get married to? Do I want to get married?’ That was when I realised that I didn’t want to have children,” he added.

He acknowledged that the decision carried extra weight because he is an only child and deeply loves his mother.

“It’s a big thing to realise as a human being and an only child, especially as the only child of a mother I love dearly and want to do everything for. It doesn’t mean I will act on it. I might still decide to have a child.”

In April, the 41-year-old revealed that he nearly married twice. He even planned pre-introduction ceremonies on both occasions.

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