Don’t make marriage, children centre of your life, actress Tayo Adeniyi tells women
August 6, 2026 3:45 pm
Temitayo Adeniyi. Credit: IG | iamadeniyitayo
Nollywood actress, Tayo Adeniyi, has urged women, particularly those in their late 30s and 40s, not to make marriage and childbearing the sole measure of a fulfilled life.
In a video shared on her social media page on Wednesday, the actress encouraged women to “de-centre” marriage and children, saying happiness and fulfilment can still be achieved without either.
Addressing women who have been unable to marry or have children despite their efforts, Adeniyi advised them not to compromise their wellbeing in pursuit of societal expectations.
“Please, de-centre marriage. You do not have to get married and you do not have to have kids also.
“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. A whole life doesn’t have to be with a man or with kids,” she said.
The actress stressed that marriage and parenthood should not define a woman’s worth, urging women not to endure unhealthy relationships simply to satisfy societal expectations.
“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.
“Don’t go out of your way to have these things. 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.
According to her, women can live happy and meaningful lives even without a husband or children.
“You can be happy without children. You can be happy without a husband. Life has changed. Seasons have changed,” she said.
In a separate post on Instagram, Adeniyi further explained that “decentralising” marriage and children does not mean rejecting them, but refusing to make them the foundation of one’s identity.
“Decentralising marriage and children means refusing to make them the center 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.
Watch the video below:
𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐲𝐢 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧
Credit: IG | iamadeniyitayo
—
Follow us for more breaking news and videos pic.twitter.com/SR3q3HsrIq— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) August 6, 2026
Hannah Johnson is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over three years of professional experience in reporting, storytelling, and digital content creation. She blends traditional reporting skills with a modern, digital-first approach to journalism, producing content tailored for both web and social platforms. Hannah is skilled at turning complex topics into clear, engaging, and relatable stories that resonate with a wide audience. Her work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]