Veteran Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, has sparked a heated conversation on social media and in public spaces following her recent comments on the high rate of infidelity among Nigerian men.
During a candid podcast interview with fellow actress Ayo Adesanya, the 55-year-old film star claimed that between 90 to 99 percent of Nigerian men are unfaithful to their partners, blaming cultural and generational influences for the trend.
Akintola stated that cheating and polygamy are not new behaviours but part of a long-standing societal pattern passed down through generations of Nigerian men.
“I don’t know where this idea of fidelity in Africa came from,” she said during the interview. “Your father cheats, your grandfather cheated, my father has two wives. It’s part of what we see around us.”
She went on to suggest that many Nigerian men grow up in environments where infidelity is considered normal. According to her, some even learn the behaviour by observing their fathers openly date other women or maintain multiple relationships.
“Some of them started by following their daddy to girlfriends’ house,” she said. “It’s engraved in them. I’m not excusing it, don’t get me wrong, I am just being realistic.”
Her comments have drawn mixed reactions online and offline, with some agreeing with her take on cultural influences, while others argue that painting all men with the same brush is unfair and dangerous.
Akintola, who has featured in several award-winning Nigerian films and series, highlighted that she was not defending infidelity or encouraging women to accept it. Rather, she explained that women should be aware of the social reality and choose their paths accordingly.
“I can’t tell you whether to stay or leave,” she said. “But if you leave this one and move to the next one, you still have the same issue. They all cheat, 90 percent of them cheat.”
She also noted that character is formed early in life and that by the time many men become adults, their behaviour is difficult to change.
“I hear characters are fully formed when you’re seven years old,” she added.
Akintola’s opinion touches on the broader issue of how cultural norms and family settings shape behaviour in Nigerian society. Polygamy, for example, has long been practised in various parts of Nigeria, especially among traditional and religious communities. In some homes, it remains widely accepted for a man to have multiple wives or partners.
In modern Nigerian society, however, where ideas of monogamy, gender equality, and individual rights are gaining ground, conversations around infidelity and relationship dynamics are becoming more complex.
Many Nigerian women particularly in urban areasn ow demand loyalty and transparency in relationships. At the same time, some argue that the cultural foundation laid by generations past still heavily influences current attitudes toward marriage and relationships.
Reactions to Akintola’s comments have flooded social media platforms, with some women sharing their personal stories of heartbreak, while others joked about “accepting their fate.”
“I respect her honesty,” one Instagram user wrote. “We all know this is what happens, but it’s hard to admit.”
Another user disagreed: “Not all men cheat. This generalisation is damaging and not helpful. There are faithful men out there.”
Some men, too, have voiced their disapproval, accusing the actress of stereotyping Nigerian men unfairly. “Let’s not use bad examples to generalise everyone,” said a Twitter user. “Some of us grew up in homes with loving, loyal fathers.”
In response to the backlash, supporters of the actress argue that she merely stated a hard truth many people are unwilling to confront. Others believe her comments could serve as a wake-up call for men to reflect on the example they set for their children.
Meanwhile, the conversation has reignited interest in the wider issues of marital values, generational influence, and the role of parenting in shaping character.
As the public continues to weigh in on the actress’s statement, one thing is clear: her words have once again brought to the surface a topic that many Nigerian families deal with quietly behind closed doors.
Whether or not the statistics she quoted are accurate, Akintola has stirred important national reflection on relationships, culture, and the silent expectations placed on both men and women in love and marriage.
