By Prosper Mene
The hustle and bustle of Mother’s Day on March 30, 2025, has left a lasting mark on Lagos markets, with traders reporting a significant economic boost today, March 31, driven by last-minute shoppers honoring their moms. From Balogun Market to Oshodi, families flocked yesterday to snatch up Ankara fabrics, glittering jewelry, and vibrant flower bouquets, ensuring mothers across the city were celebrated in style.
Amina Yusuf, a fabric seller in Balogun Market, described the scene yesterday as “absolute chaos—in the best way.” She noted that latecomers, desperate to find the perfect gift, fueled a 20% sales spike compared to a typical Sunday.
“Everyone wanted something special—lace, Aso-Oke, anything to make their mothers shine,” Yusuf told reporters today, her stall still busy with customers exchanging Mother’s Day stories.
The surge underscores Nigerian mothers’ cultural prominence, particularly during Mothering Sunday, a tradition tied to the fourth Sunday of Lent and widely celebrated in Lagos’ churches and homes. Shoppers like Tunde Adebayo, 34, admitted to procrastinating until the final hours. “I got my mom a red Ankara wrapper and a necklace just before the market closed yesterday—she loved it,” he said, grinning outside Idumota Market this morning.
Beyond fabrics and trinkets, florists like Chidinma Okeke in Yaba reported selling out of roses and lilies by noon on March 30, with some customers doubling back today to grab leftovers for belated tributes. “Mothers are queens here—people don’t hold back,” Okeke said, estimating her sales tripled compared to last week.
Economists see this post-Mother’s Day boom as a microcosm of Lagos’ vibrant informal economy, where cultural events often drive commerce. Dr. Femi Aluko, a market analyst at Lagos State University, noted today that such spikes—while temporary—offer a lifeline to traders still reeling from inflation, which hit 32.7% in February 2025 (per Nigeria Bureau of Statistics). “It’s not just about gifts; it’s about affirming family values,” he said.
Yet, not all reactions were celebratory. On X today, some Lagosians grumbled about inflated prices during the rush, with user @NaijaMomma
tweeting, “Ankara that was N5,000 last week became N7,000 yesterday—traders know how to cash in!” Still, for most, the expense was worth it to see mothers draped in tradition, their smiles lighting up homes and church pews.
This economic ripple effect from Mother’s Day shows both the resilience of Lagos’ markets and the deep-rooted reverence for Nigerian mothers.
