Toke Makinwa Advises Against Early Marriage for Women
Nigerian media personality and actress Toke Makinwa has warned that many women who marry in their twenties later regret the decision.
Speaking on the MENtality podcast hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Makinwa explained that most women are still discovering themselves at that age and are not yet equipped to make sound marital choices.
“Women have no business getting married in their 20s… You don’t even know yourself yet. Those who did are regretting it now. Even those who are still married, if they are being honest, will tell you they shouldn’t have rushed it.”
Toke Makinwa
She also shared a saying from her mother: “Marriage is like an institution. Those inside want to get out, those outside can’t wait to get in.”
Makinwa dismissed the notion that modern Nigerian women are overly materialistic or pursue relationships solely for financial gain. She argued that romantic exchanges have always involved some form of give‑and‑take.
“From time immemorial, a relationship between a man and a woman has always been transactional, right from the Garden of Eden, right from our parents’ days. And the degree at which it is happening now, I will blame the men. Sometimes, that [financial benefits] is all men have to offer.”
Toke Makinwa
The actress concluded that while financial considerations exist in partnerships, they are not a new phenomenon introduced by today’s women.
