According to Nigerian Tribune on Monday, July 6, 2026, Nollywood actress and media personality Toke Makinwa has weighed in on the growing debate surrounding transactional relationships, insisting that the exchange of benefits between men and women has existed for generations and is far from being a modern phenomenon.
Speaking on a recent episode of the MENtality podcast hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Makinwa rejected the notion that contemporary Nigerian women are responsible for turning relationships into financial arrangements.
According to her, such exchanges have been part of relationships throughout history.
“From time immemorial, a relationship between a man and a woman has always been transactional, right from the Garden of Eden, right from our parents’ days. And the degree at which it is happening now, I will blame the men. Sometimes, that [financial benefits] is all men have to offer.”
She maintained that the current narrative unfairly portrays women as overly materialistic, arguing that many men themselves encourage that perception by making money the centrepiece of their pursuit. Rather than focusing on meaningful conversations, emotional compatibility or genuine connection, she said some men prefer to rely on financial offers as their primary way of attracting women.
Makinwa explained that this approach often shapes the way relationships begin and influences how women are judged. In her view, when men introduce money at the earliest stages of getting to know someone, they reinforce the idea that financial gain is the foundation of the relationship. As a result, women are later criticised for responding to the same standard that was established from the outset.
She further argued that financial success has become a substitute for other qualities that help sustain healthy relationships. According to the actress, some men fail to develop communication skills, confidence or emotional intelligence, choosing instead to depend almost entirely on their wealth to gain attention.
“Nigerian men don’t have games aside from money. Once a Nigerian man makes money, he starts throwing it at the hottest girls. Sometimes, you meet a man and you want to know him but he is offering you money,” she said.
Makinwa’s remarks have added to the wider conversation about gender expectations, dating culture and the role of money in modern relationships, with her comments highlighting what she believes is the responsibility men bear in shaping those dynamics…..See More
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