Veteran Nigerian actress Binta Ayo Mogaji has sparked a conversation by advising single women above 35 to prioritize motherhood over marriage. Speaking during an interview on Oyinmomo TV, the 60-year-old actress, who became a mother at 40, suggested that women who desire children should not wait for marriage before starting a family.
Mogaji encouraged women in this age group to consider having children outside wedlock if they find themselves in a committed relationship with a man who may not be ready for marriage but is open to having children. “If God blesses you with someone who likes you and you can have children together, go ahead and do it, as long as you desire a child and can take care of the child,” she stated.
The actress also expressed concerns over societal pressures and the stigma attached to single women seeking marriage later in life. She warned that by the time a woman reaches 35, societal expectations around age may make it harder to find a partner, and even if she does, she could face challenges in raising children at an older age. Mogaji further highlighted the importance of motherhood for women who desire it, recommending adoption as an alternative if finding a willing partner proves difficult.
Her candid advice comes amid ongoing debates on the pressures women face concerning marriage, motherhood, and societal expectations.
