women over 35 Who Can’t Find a Husband Should Get Pregnant

Any women over 35 Who Can’t Find a Husband Should Get Pregnant for Any Man” — Ayo Mogaji’s Controversial Statement Sparks National Outrage

Women over 35 Who Can’t Find a Husband Should Get Pregnant like seriously, In a society already balancing on the edge of cultural conservatism and modern gender equality, a recent statement by popular veteran Yoruba actress Ayo Mogaji has thrown fuel into the fire.

During a candid interview on a Yoruba talk show that aired last week, Ayo Mogaji stated:

“Any Women over 35 who has not found a husband should just get pregnant for any available man and have a child. At least, you won’t die barren.”

Simple? No. Honest? Perhaps. Outrageous? Absolutely.

In a nation where single Women over 35 already face social ridicule, Mogaji’s comment has sparked a wildfire of criticism and uncomfortable support, exposing Nigeria’s deep-rooted obsession with marriage, motherhood, and the female biological clock.

This article isn’t here to play it safe. We’re diving head-first into the cultural, psychological, and gender-political hurricane stirred by Ayo Mogaji’s controversial statement.

1. Who Is Ayo Mogaji and Why Her Words Matter

Ayo Mogaji is not just any actress. She’s a seasoned veteran of Nollywood especially in Yoruba-language cinema with a decades-long career and a loyal fan base across Nigeria and the diaspora.

Respected for her candor and fearlessness, she’s known to speak her mind on family, culture, and relationships. But this time, even her supporters are asking:

Has she gone too far?

Her statement wasn’t made in jest. It came from a place of cultural belief that motherhood is essential, even if marriage is absent.

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2. The Double-Edged Sword of “Biological Deadline”

Let’s confront one uncomfortable truth: Biologically, it’s harder to conceive naturally after age 35. That’s a fact.

But does that justify pressuring women to get pregnant “for any man” just to beat the clock?

Mogaji’s logic was likely rooted in fear fear that many women will wake up at 45, regretful, childless, and alone.

But that fear is not justification for reckless, dignity-stripping advice.

Controversial Question: Why does society push women toward motherhood through desperation, but never holds men accountable for walking away from fatherhood?

3. The Root of the Statement: Cultural Panic Over Unmarried Women

In Nigeria, especially in Yoruba and Igbo cultures, a woman over 35 without a husband is often viewed as incomplete. She’s labeled:

“Too choosy”
“Used and dumped”
“Spiritually tied”
“Career-obsessed”
“Proud”

Now, add “childless” to that description, and she becomes the object of community pity, gossip, and mockery.

Mogaji’s statement, controversial as it is, exposes this rot this deep cultural panic over women who refuse to follow the script: marry early, give birth quickly, stay silent.

But the question is should we reform the script, or force women into it at any cost?

4. Why “Any Man” is the Most Dangerous Part of the Advice

“Get pregnant for any man.”
That’s the most damning part of Mogaji’s statement. Let’s break it down.

It implies:

Consent and compatibility don’t matter.
The man doesn’t need to be responsible or even present.
The child’s well-being is secondary to the mother’s fear of childlessness.

This is how generational trauma begins with children born into instability, fatherlessness, or emotional chaos. Not because of love, but because of social fear.

Real Talk: Children are not tools to beat shame. They are humans who need homes, not just wombs.

5. Feminist Backlash: “We Are Not Baby-Making Machines!”

Unsurprisingly, Ayo Mogaji’s statement has faced intense backlash from feminist groups and progressive voices online.

Popular Nigerian feminist Aisha Yesufu tweeted:

“It is this kind of thinking that keeps women trapped. We are not ovens for society’s expectations. If motherhood is a choice, then no woman should be bullied into it through fear.”

Activist pages on Instagram and X exploded with hashtags:

#WomenAreNotWombs
#RespectOurChoices
#SayNoToDesperationMotherhood

Their message is clear: A woman’s worth is not tied to her marital or maternal status.

6. Supporters Say She’s Just Being “Realistic”

Despite the outrage, some Nigerians support Ayo Mogaji’s sentiment, saying she’s only expressing what many elders think but are too scared to say publicly.

In online forums and Facebook comment sections, many wrote:

“She’s right! After 35, it’s better to have something than nothing.”
“Men are not ready to marry; at least have your own child.”
“Marriage is not guaranteed, but motherhood you can take into your hands.”

This camp argues that desperation should not equal failure, and that self-chosen single motherhood is better than waiting endlessly for a perfect man who may never come.

Valid Point: Should women who truly desire children wait for a ring — or should they redefine family on their own terms?

7. The Dangerous Consequence of Normalizing Desperation

Here’s the dangerous slope Mogaji’s comment pushes us down:

Normalization of unsafe sexual decisions
Increase in fatherless children
Women settling for abusive or careless partners just to get pregnant
Children born out of pressure, not love

We’ve seen this story play out in real life in Nollywood, in our neighborhoods, even in churches. A woman in her late 30s hooks up with a married man or a younger guy “just to have a child,” only to be left raising the baby alone with emotional wounds and public shame.

Let’s be clear: Empowered single motherhood is different from desperation-fueled pregnancy.

8. Where Are the Men in This Equation?

What’s most disturbing is how the man’s role is completely erased in Mogaji’s statement.

No mention of responsibility.
No call for intentional fatherhood.
No accountability.

Why must the woman bear the burden of preserving lineage while the man gets away with casual contribution?

If a woman must get pregnant “for any man,” what does that say about the kind of family we’re building in 2025?

Real families need intentionality, not accidents.

9. A Middle Ground? Empowering Women With Real Options

Rather than pushing women toward “any available man,” how about we push:

Better access to fertility options (egg freezing, IVF, sperm banks).
Emotional and psychological support for single women navigating life beyond 35.
Respect for women’s timelines that don’t fit cultural molds.

Let’s educate, not pressure. Empower, not guilt.

If a woman chooses single motherhood through informed decision and preparation, that’s empowerment. If she does it out of cultural shame, that’s emotional violence.

10. Conclusion: Mogaji’s Words Reveal More About Us Than Her

Ayo Mogaji may have said the words, but the truth is she’s just a mirror of Nigerian society’s broken expectations.

Her statement didn’t appear from a vacuum. It came from years of hearing:

“You must marry before 30.”
“You must bear children or you’re cursed.”
“A woman’s time is short.”

But maybe it’s time to break that mirror and build a new one where:

Women aren’t afraid of age.
Men are expected to grow up, not just “show up.”
And children are brought into love, not shame.

To every woman over 35:
You don’t need a ring to be whole.
You don’t need a child to be respected.
And you certainly don’t need to get pregnant “for any man” to prove your worth.