Nigerian actress and media personality Ariyike Owolagba, popularly known as Ariyiike Dimples, has opened up about her decision to stop attending church for three years after a painful encounter with a church elder.
Speaking on the Open Up podcast, the actress recalled how her fashion choice became the subject of condemnation.
She said an elder told her she would go to hell for wearing a pencil skirt to church, a remark that left her shocked and frustrated.
Ariyiike explained that her community church was dominated by elderly members, with most young people leaving for other congregations.
“Yes, you can have your doctrines, but there is a way you can simplify it for young people and take them in without judging them,” she said.
She recounted how the elder reported her to her father, forcing her to send a photo of the skirt to her mother to prove she was not dressed indecently.
“The reason I stopped going to church was because I wore a pencil skirt to church and an elderly woman said I will go to hell fire. I was shocked and felt wrongly judged so I stopped going to church for 3 years,” she recalled.
Still a Practicing Christian
Despite quitting church, Ariyiike says she remains a practicing, Christian. She said leaving the community church was a way to avoid further judgment and preserve her peace of mind.
“Thankfully, I was already out of my parents’ house. So, I chose to avoid the community church so that they won’t see me,” she added.
Her story reflects a wider struggle faced by many young Nigerians who feel alienated by rigid doctrines and generational divides within traditional churches.
Ariyiike did not even support her position from the scriptures, raising questions if her Christianity is merely a social construct or a spiritual conviction.
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