Nigerian media personality Toke Makinwa has told women to avoid marrying in their 20s, saying the decade is better spent on self-discovery.
She made the comment on a recent episode of her podcast, Toke Moments, while speaking with reality television star Tacha.
“Women have no business getting married in their 20s. You don’t even know yourself yet,” Makinwa said. She added that many women who married young now regret the decision, stating, “Those who did are regretting it now.”
Tacha, a former Big Brother Naija housemate, shared a similar view on marriage during the conversation, quoting a line from her mother: “My mum says marriage is like an institution. Those inside want to get out, those outside can’t wait to get in.”
Makinwa, 41, was born on November 3, 1984, in Lagos State. She built her career as a radio host on Rhythm 93.7 FM’s The Morning Drive and later launched the YouTube series Toke Moments. She was married to Maje Ayida from 2014 to 2017 and became a mother for the first time in 2025, at age 40.
On the same podcast, Makinwa reflected on her own 20s and 30s. “I don’t want to go back to my 30s; they were the worst years of my life,” she said, adding that she wished she had “explored more” during her 20s.
Reactions on social media have been divided. Some fans questioned whether Toke Makinwa was in a position to advise on marriage given her own divorce, while others pointed to fertility risks as a reason against delaying marriage into later years. A number of users defended her point, arguing that readiness matters more than age.
Others were skeptical of celebrity advice, saying public figures should not be treated as authorities on personal life decisions simply because of their fame.
