Nigerian actress Bisola Aiyeola has said marriage is not central to her life ambitions, explaining that she is content with her life at 40 and would only embrace marriage if it happens without making it the measure of her fulfilment.
The actress made the disclosure during an appearance on the In My Opinion podcast, where she questioned the expectation that women should remain in marriages even when they bear most of the financial and domestic responsibilities without adequate support from their partners.
Aiyeola, who is raising her daughter as a single parent, said the challenges of managing parenthood alone had influenced her perspective on relationships. She argued that marriage should not leave one partner responsible for providing for the family, raising children and managing the household without meaningful assistance from the other.
“Women are like, you know what? What’s the point if I still must do everything myself? Why do I have to be tied to this man all in the name of marriage?” she asked.
The actress explained that such unequal relationships could make women question the purpose of remaining married when they are already handling responsibilities that should be shared between partners.
Although she acknowledged the importance of marriage to society, Aiyeola maintained that it would not define her personal achievements or determine whether she considers her life successful.
“Marriage is an institution; it is essential for society. For me, if I do get married, it won’t be the core of my life. I mean, I’m doing well,” she said.
Her comments highlighted the distinction between recognising marriage as a social institution and regarding it as an essential requirement for personal fulfilment. She indicated that she was open to getting married but did not feel compelled to pursue it as a priority.
Aiyeola also spoke about the realities of raising a child without a partner, describing single parenthood as a demanding experience that requires one person to shoulder responsibilities that would ordinarily be shared.
The actress said she had been honest with her daughter about the difficulties involved, making it clear that she would not encourage her to aspire to raise a child alone.
“Being a single parent and looking after my daughter, I still let her know that being a single parent is not that easy. That’s not what you should aspire to be. Bearing the whole load of raising a child shouldn’t be for one person alone,” she said.
Her remarks underscored her position that while single parenthood is a reality for some families, the responsibility of raising a child should not fall entirely on one person when a supportive partnership is possible.
Reflecting on reaching the age of 40 in January, Aiyeola expressed satisfaction with her personal journey and described her current stage of life as her happiest.
“I turned 40 in January. Yeah. I love me so much, and this is the best time of my life,” she said.
The actress’s comments come against the backdrop of her previous public reflections on motherhood and her experience of becoming a parent outside marriage. She has also spoken about losing her daughter’s father in 2018 and the challenges associated with her personal circumstances.
Despite acknowledging the difficulties of single parenthood, Aiyeola maintained that marriage would not be the defining factor in her life, stressing that she was comfortable with her present circumstances while remaining open to what the future might bring.
