As reported by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, July 6, 2026, Nollywood actress and media figure Toke Makinwa has shared her thoughts on the ongoing discussion about transactional relationships.
She asserts that the exchange of benefits between men and women has been a longstanding aspect of relationships, not a recent trend.
During a recent episode of the MENtality podcast with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Makinwa dismissed the idea that modern Nigerian women are to blame for turning relationships into financial transactions. She emphasized that such exchanges have always been a part of relationships throughout history.
“Since ancient times, relationships between men and women have been transactional, dating back to the Garden of Eden and our ancestors. I believe the current extent of this is more the fault of men. Sometimes, financial benefits are all that men have to offer.”
She argued that the prevailing narrative unfairly depicts women as excessively materialistic, pointing out that many men contribute to this view by prioritizing money in their pursuits.
Instead of engaging in meaningful discussions, emotional compatibility, or genuine connections, she noted that some men tend to rely on financial incentives as their main strategy for attracting women.
Makinwa stated that this method frequently affects how relationships start and impacts the way women are perceived.
She believes that when men bring money into the initial stages of a relationship, they strengthen the notion that financial benefit is the basis of the connection.
Consequently, women are later judged for adhering to the same expectations set from the beginning. She also contended that financial success has replaced other important traits that contribute to maintaining healthy relationships.
The actress noted that some men neglect to cultivate communication skills, confidence, or emotional intelligence, opting instead to rely almost solely on their wealth to attract 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….See More