Toke Makinwa has sparked a fresh debate after warning women about men who become successful after marriage. She said money often reveals a person’s true character rather than changing who they are.

The media personality made the remarks during an appearance on the Mentality podcast hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Banky W. The discussion focused on relationships, money and how women view men.

Relationships and money

Speaking about modern dating, Makinwa described relationships between men and women as transactional.

“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,” she said.

“You know, a woman will feel like she wants to ask her husband for something, she has to throw on the nicest underwear, make his best meal, rub him, like Esther, before she had to go before the king. Things have changed over the years; now, social media is a bit extreme.”

She also blamed men for the growing culture of transactional relationships.

“The degree at which it is happening now, I would blame the men. Sometimes that’s all men have to offer.”

Dating within your means

Makinwa urged people to date within their financial capacity instead of chasing lifestyles they cannot afford.

“I’m a big believer in dating within your wage, that way, there will not be stories that touch,” she said. “You will have a good girl at home, a girl who will even make dinner with her own money when you don’t have any. Yet, some men will still want to cheat on her with a woman they can’t afford.”

Success can reveal character.

Her strongest comments came when she spoke about men who become wealthy after entering a relationship.

“Heaven forbid you end up with a guy who hasn’t blown. The day he blows, that is when you will know his true personality,” she said. “Money doesn’t change people; it just reveals who the person is. So many men are treating women who sacrificed everything for them badly.”