Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has once more sparked a public debate around relationships in Nigeria, claiming that a shortage of men and cultural tradition make polygamy a necessary reality for some women. Her remarks came during an interview on Talk To B, where she discussed fidelity, marriage, and gender expectations. 

Akintola, age 55, argued that polygamy is part of Nigerian tradition. She recalled how in the older generation, especially among Yoruba families, it was common for men to have multiple wives. She said that with fewer eligible men available, two women sharing one man is something society might accept rather than dismiss. 

One point she raised was how differences in sexual needs can strain marriages. Akintola cited the example of a woman who accepted a second wife for her husband so that he could find balance, claiming this in her friend’s case led to greater peace at home. She reinforced that marriage, fidelity, and expectation of monogamy must be viewed in the context of culture and upbringing. 

She said fidelity is often romanticized and that many women are living in denial about the prevalence of cheating among men. According to her, about 90 to 99 percent of Nigerian men cheat, a figure she said is rooted in generations of permissiveness and cultural norms. 

Public Reactions Over This 

Social media users reacted swiftly after Akintola’s interview. Some agree with her, saying she is being realistic about tendencies many already observe. These defenders argue that her view sheds light on pain many women endure while upholding ideals of monogamy. Others sharply disagree, calling her stance controversial, arguing it normalizes cheating and devalues monogamous marriages. They say citing “shortage of men” as justification undermines personal responsibility and ignores individual differences. 

Among her supporters, the argument is that cultural tradition should not be ignored when discussing relationships in Nigeria. They believe that raising boys with strong moral values, teaching respect for women, and honesty are part of the solution rather than simply condemning behavior. Akintola herself emphasized this point.