Fitness expert and wellness entrepreneur Maje Ayida has opened up about his battle with depression following his widely publicized divorce from media personality Toke Makinwa in 2016.

Speaking during a recent church service hosted by Pastor Bolaji Idowu, Ayida candidly shared how the aftermath of the divorce pushed him into a dark emotional space, leading to a year-long withdrawal from work, social life, and his usual routine.

“I went through a divorce which resulted in me being depressed. It was a very publicised divorce, and that left me feeling very alone. I withdrew from society,” he said.

Ayida revealed that the emotional toll of the breakup severely impacted his self-esteem, mental health, and career. According to him, the shame and guiltparticularly concerning his family’s name led him to isolate himself and abandon work responsibilities.

“Legacy is very important to me. I was ashamed of what I felt I had done to my family’s name. I stopped going to work. I found it very difficult to function,” he added.

The fallout from the divorce affected not only his emotional wellbeing but also his business, with Ayida admitting to losing focus, deals, and motivation.

“As a man, your work is your identity. I started to lose work and business deals. It became a real problem for me.”

He also described dealing with insomnia, paranoia, and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, recalling moments when he believed everyone around him was judging him.

“The few times I stepped out, I had created a scenario in my mind that everybody was talking about me… and that would just send me right back home.”

Ayida eventually began his healing process by accepting responsibility for his actions and taking practical steps toward recovery.

“I made a decision for my own survival. I did research on how to get out of the dark place, and the top result was accountability. I took the blame on myself. It made me feel worse initially, but it was the first real step toward recovery.”

The couple’s divorce garnered public attention after Makinwa documented their relationship in her 2016 memoir “On Becoming,” where she detailed infidelity and emotional pain. In response, Ayida filed a defamation lawsuit against her and won the case in 2020.

Despite the legal victory, Ayida admitted the emotional scars lingered long after the courtroom battle ended.