Nigerian actor Kanayo O Kanayo has sparked controversy with comments on unmarried women in their 30s.

During a recent interview on the Soni Irabor Live show, veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo O Kanayo expressed his concern about women in their 30s who remain unmarried. He described their situation as a “prayer point” and a “state of emergency.”

KOK attributed this predicament to certain dating choices made by these women in their youth. 

He explained that many young women in university prioritize relationships with older, wealthier men, often rejecting advances from their peers. This, he argued, leads to a reliance on these older relationships, which can hinder their ability to find suitable long-term partners as they age.

He said, “A young girl will be in the university at 18, 19, 20. She starts dating a very rich guy—sometimes very old. Then, what you see along the line is that because the guy is very rich (maybe married), she refuses the advances of other younger people to her. Because this guy has either gotten her a car or a house. So, to her, she’s reached a very high level. From 22, she goes on to 24. And maybe, even if she quarrels with this guy, she gets her next guy. Before you know it, she turns 25, 26 unmarried because she is refusing the advances of younger prospective husbands.”

He further elaborated that as these women approach their late 20s and early 30s, their attractiveness to younger men may diminish, and their previous reliance on older partners may become less viable.

This, according to KOK, can lead to a sense of urgency and desperation as they struggle to find a husband.
The actor emphasized that despite appearances, these women may not be enjoying a carefree lifestyle. 
Instead, he suggested they may be experiencing anxiety and actively seeking divine intervention to find a suitable partner.
He added, “Now she gets into 29, 30. By that time, she has left the university. And men are no longer maybe finding her that attractive. So, she gets to 31, husband is not coming. And what do you have? At 23, it’s a flex. At 28, she becomes a prayer point. At 33, she is now declared a state of emergency. And some of them even get to 35. And you see them and think they are having fun, they are not having fun. They are now in a state of emergency, praying that God bring anyone.”