Nollywood actress Tayo Adeniyi has encouraged women to stop tying their self-worth to marriage and motherhood, urging them instead to pursue fulfilment beyond societal expectations.
In a video shared on her social media platforms, Adeniyi advised women—particularly those in their late 30s and 40s—not to see marriage or having children as the ultimate measure of a successful life.
She acknowledged that many women have made genuine efforts to find life partners or start families but said their circumstances should never define their value.
“Please, de-centre marriage. You do not have to get married, and you do not have to have kids also,” she said.
Addressing women in their 40s who are either unmarried or married without children, the actress urged them to embrace their lives without feeling incomplete.
“If you’re in your 40s and you’ve tried your best to find a man to be married or perhaps you’re married and you haven’t got any kids, please, I beg you, you can be whole without these things.
“You can be a whole you without having kids, without having a man in your life. Just get your life together.”
Adeniyi also warned against staying in unhealthy relationships simply to meet societal expectations of marriage or parenthood.
According to her, enduring toxic situations for the sake of fitting into traditional norms is never worthwhile.”Don’t put up with nonsense because you want to be married or because you want to have children. Don’t. It’s not worth it.”If it does not come naturally, let it go. Trust me, if it’s going to happen, it will happen, and if it is not happening, there’s absolutely nothing you can do to make it happen,” she added.
She concluded by reminding women that happiness and purpose are possible regardless of marital or parental status.”You can be happy without children. You can be happy without a husband. Life has changed. Seasons have changed.”
In a follow-up Instagram post, the actress clarified that encouraging women to “de-centre” marriage and children should not be interpreted as rejecting either.
Instead, she explained that marriage and parenthood can be meaningful blessings but should not become the sole standard by which a woman’s life is judged.”Decentralising marriage and children means refusing to make them the centre of your worth. They can be beautiful blessings, but they are not the only measure of a meaningful life.”Purpose, peace, service, growth, and love also create a life that matters. Please love yourself first; you are enough,” she wrote.
