Curiosity may have killed the cat, but for Folakemi, it sparked a dating adventure on a sugar daddy website that would change everything.
Swipes, matches, and connections — online dating has never been more popular. From casual flings to long-term love, millions are turning to apps and websites to find exactly what they’re looking for. But beyond traditional romance, sugar daddy arrangements are another kind of partnership that has taken root in the digital dating world.
These relationships — built on companionship and financial support — have fuelled the rise of specialised dating platforms where users seek mutually beneficial connections. With more people openly embracing this dynamic, sugar daddy dating has become a fascinating phenomenon.
To learn more, I had an enlightening conversation with Folakemi (FK), a 23-year-old university graduate, who shared her experience on a sugar daddy dating website.
An adventure sparked by curiosity
For some, dating apps are a gateway to meaningful connections, a chance to find that once-in-a-lifetime love. For others, it’s all about the thrill — the chase, the game, the endless possibilities. Then, there are those who are freshly heartbroken and dipping their toes back into the dating pool, swiping their way through a rebound. But for FK, none of these reasons apply.
“Sometime in December 2024, I was scrolling through Instagram when a sponsored ad popped up for a dating website. I clicked out of curiosity, and it didn’t take long to realise — it was a sugar daddy dating site. So, I joined.”
Sugar daddy websites often come with a certain allure — financial security, extravagant gifts, and the promise of a life on one’s terms. For FK, it wasn’t about any of that, but rather backed by curiosity. “I didn’t join for material gain; I just wanted a peek into that world. Sure, I have my materialistic moments, but this was about exploration, not exploitation,” she clarifies.
FK’s lucky beginning
She got lucky on day one. “The same day I joined, the notifications started rolling in — profile views, messages, curiosity brewing on both ends,” she shares. “And then, there was ‘Dr Rafael,’ a registered sugar daddy. His first message? A simple but loaded: ‘Hello Pretty.’”
Moving on, FK shared that Dr Rafael didn’t say much, but their “conversations flowed easily.” He kept bringing up Detty December, insisting he wanted to ‘treat me.’ “Initially, I hesitated due to scepticism, but my curiosity got the best of me. Two days later, we met at an ultra-exclusive motorboat club. I walked in under his name, bypassing prying eyes. He had secured a private booth, which I was grateful for because I wasn’t quite ready for public scrutiny just yet.”
“I think he could tell I was nervous because without asking, he ordered me a cocktail — a house special — and somehow got me talking about my interests. That put me at ease,” FK recalls, giggling. “I have to admit, Dr Rafael was incredibly attractive. He was clean and well put together, and despite the age gap, he knew much about my preferences.”
Things soon took an interesting turn. “The conversation was easy; the drinks kept coming,” she recalls. “Not long , Dr. Rafael made his intentions clear. He asked if we could meet again, and I was tempted until he mentioned a weekend getaway. Right then and there, I knew what that meant. And I also knew I was out. I wasn’t that adventurous. But the night wasn’t over just yet. Before we said our goodbyes, he sent me one million naira — just ‘for my time.’ It was, without a doubt, the easiest money I had ever made.”
Trying marathons – but a different kind
FK may have struck gold on her first try, but things don’t always go as well as she soon discovers. “The next guy I talked to on the app went by the username NautiGood, which — in hindsight — should have been my first red flag. But I was there to explore, not judge,” she says. “Now that I think about it, I should have judged.”
What followed was less of a romantic spark and more of an unsolicited strategy session. NautiGood had an itinerary — a full breakdown of sex positions, neatly planned like a military drill.
“I was taken aback by his audacity, but what put me off was his complete lack of interest in me… It was like I was just a participant in his personal sex Olympics.”
Needless to say, FK didn’t stick around to compete. She ghosted him.
Clearly, her experience isn’t an isolated case, as an article by Fox Business reports that roughly 6 in 10 women who use dating apps have experienced harassment. Even more unsettling, 57% of young women report receiving unsolicited sexually explicit messages or photos.
Meeting the married charmer
“Then, there was SamzySam, the man who almost stole my heart,” she reveals.
Finding love on a sugar daddy website? Unlikely but not impossible. What started as a casual online exchange soon turned into something unexpected. According to FK,“I started talking to SamzySam in January, and before I knew it, I felt a real connection. But just as things started to heat up, I uncovered a shocking truth—he was married.”
Contrary to popular opinion, a large number of sugar daddies are single and looking for mutually beneficial relationships. But this? This was different. “It seems silly that I—a self-registered sugar baby—would have an issue with my supposed sugar daddy being married,” she admits. “But SamzySam wasn’t your typical older, wealthy patron. He was in his early thirties, and if I’m being honest, I had started to like him.”
And that changed everything.
FK describes her experience with the married charmer in detail, saying, “We met at one of those upscale restaurants on Victoria Island, the kind with dim lighting and overpriced cocktails. The moment he walked in, I could smell marriage on him — don’t ask me how; I just knew. My instincts are never wrong.
Nevertheless, I went on two more dates. He regularly sent gifts, but ultimately, I had to walk away. I wasn’t about to keep feeding my feelings for a man who already belonged to someone else.”
The inevitable end to a journey
“On the last day of January this year, I deleted my account. The curiosity had faded, and honestly, I was bored with the men I met after SamzySam,” FK admits with a wry smile. “Maybe, it’s just part of my plan to get over him.”
When I ask if she would ever try dating apps again, FK says, “Absolutely not. That was a one-time thing, and I’m no longer intrigued.”
But then, with a knowing glance, she adds, “Though I won’t lie — curiosity has a way of leading me into new adventures. I’ve been seeing ads about Shibari (to communicate or exchange emotions with partners through rope tying), so… who knows? Maybe I’ll explore that next.”
