Young adults in urban Nigerian settings are increasingly exposed to multiple forms of adversity, including family instability, economic hardship, and interpersonal stress, which may have long-term psychological consequences. While previous studies have established that early life trauma affects later emotional and psychological functioning, there is limited context-specific evidence within Nigeria examining how cumulative childhood trauma influences emotional intelligence and self-esteem in early adulthood. This study therefore investigated the predictive role of cumulative trauma exposure on emotional intelligence and self-esteem among young adults in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). A quantitative cross-sectional design was adopted, involving 400 participants (male and female) aged 18 – 35 years selected through stratified sampling. Cumulative trauma was assessed retrospectively using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF), which is widely used in adult populations to measure early life adverse experiences. Emotional intelligence and self-esteem were measured using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), respectively. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Results showed that cumulative trauma exposure was significantly negatively correlated with emotional intelligence (r = −.41, p < .01) and self-esteem (r = −.47, p < .01). Regression analysis further indicated that cumulative trauma significantly predicted emotional intelligence (β = −.41, p < .001, R² = .17) and self-esteem (β = −.47, p < .001, R² = .22). The findings highlight the enduring impact of early trauma on psychological functioning in adulthood and