Nollywood actress Tayo Adeniyi is facing sharp backlash after advising single women in their late 30s and 40s that marriage and children are “not a must.”
In a viral video, she urged them to “de-centre” these milestones, saying: “If it doesn’t come naturally, let it go… You can be whole without these things.”
While some praised the message as liberating amid societal pressure, many netizens lashed out, accusing her of promoting resignation over perseverance.
One critic wrote that she was teaching “acceptance instead of how to find love and fertility,” sharing a story of a relative who married at 40 and now has two children: “Ladies please don’t listen to her or accept a bad situation… fight it till you win.”
Others questioned whether the advice discouraged women from pursuing traditional family goals valued in Nigerian culture. Comments highlighted concerns that such views could leave women feeling incomplete later in life or settling into loneliness.
Supporters countered that her words combat toxic pressure and unhealthy relationships, noting purpose and self-worth matter beyond marital status. Adeniyi has not publicly responded to the criticism.
