Renowned Nollywood actor Bolanle Ninalowo recently opened up about his decision to support his daughter, Aliyah, in getting a navel piercing, describing it as a meaningful step toward strengthening their father-daughter relationship.
In a candid conversation with media personality VJ Adams, Ninalowo shared that Aliyah, who just turned 18, initially expressed interest in piercing her tongue.
Reflecting on the moment, he said:
“One day, my daughter woke me up and said she wanted a tongue ring. I was shocked! Back in my day, I couldn’t even tell my father I wanted to grow a beard, let alone something like this. I realized it was likely influenced by her peers at school, and it was hard to say no when she saw others doing it.
“I took a moment and told her, ‘Aliyah, a tongue ring? I wouldn’t even want to kiss someone with a tongue ring. Think about something else.’ She agreed to reconsider.”
Aliyah later suggested a navel piercing, and Ninalowo agreed, seeing it as a less permanent and more manageable alternative. He explained that he personally drove her to get the piercing as a way to foster trust and deepen their bond.
“While it’s not something I would typically encourage, I saw it as an opportunity to connect with her, so I didn’t stand in her way,” he added.
Ninalowo also reflected on his parenting style in the wake of his separation from his wife, Bunmi, last year due to irreconcilable differences. The former couple shares two children: Aliyah, their eldest, and Morakinyo, their son.
Watch the full interview below…