Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has shared his views on the challenges some women face in finding a spouse, particularly those who remain unmarried by the age of 35.
Speaking in an interview with News Central on Monday, Kanayo explained that many young women miss marriage opportunities between the ages of 20 and 24 due to their preference for dating older, wealthy men instead of younger, marriage-minded suitors.
Kanayo noted that some women prioritize material benefits over settling down, leading to regret later in life when marriage prospects dwindle.
“A young girl will be in the university at 18, 19, 20. She starts dating a very rich guy, sometimes very old. Then what you see along the line is that because the guy is very rich—maybe married—she refuses advances from other younger people to her because this guy has either gotten her a car and a house. So to her, she’s operating at a very high level,” Kanayo said.
He added that as the years pass, these women might find it more difficult to attract marriage-minded partners.
“From 22, she goes on to 24, and maybe even if she quarrels with this guy, she gets the next guy. Before you know it, she turns 25, 26, unmarried because she’s refusing the advances of younger prospective husbands,” he explained.
According to Kanayo, the pressures of marriage intensify as women approach their 30s.
“Now she gets into 29, 30. By that time, she has left the university, and men are no longer maybe finding her that attractive. So she gets into 31, husband is not coming,” he said.
The actor also highlighted the societal pressures unmarried women face as they age, describing the progression:
“At 23, it’s a flex. At 28, she becomes a prayer point. At 33, she is now declared a state of emergency. Because husbands would not come at that level of 33 years. Some of them get to 35, and you see them and you still think they are having fun. They are not having fun. They are now a state of emergency, praying that God brings anyone.”
Kanayo’s comments have sparked conversations about the societal and cultural expectations placed on women regarding marriage, especially in Nigeria. While some agree with his perspective, others argue that women’s marital status should not define their happiness or worth.
