Nollywood actress Damilola Adegbite has highlighted what she describes as a noticeable shift in Nigeria’s dating culture, observing that younger men are increasingly expressing interest in older women.
The 41-year-old star shared her thoughts during a recent discussion on her YouTube channel. She noted that society has long conditioned women to believe their romantic prospects decline after a certain age, with younger women traditionally receiving the bulk of attention.
According to Adegbite, that narrative is changing. Women in their late 30s and 40s are now finding themselves on the receiving end of open interest from younger men who confidently pursue them.
“When society made older women feel like once we have crossed a certain age, you should basically leave the dating market quietly. Meanwhile, the younger girls were supposedly getting all the attention. But now, the tables are turning,” she said.
Drawing a biblical parallel, Adegbite added: “Honestly, I think Psalm 118:22 was onto something. You know that scripture about the stone which the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone? Maybe we should just say the older woman who was once overlooked has become the premium package.”
She further reflected on the boldness of these younger suitors: “But seriously, why is this happening? A younger man will see a woman who is 38, 40 or 42 and say boldly, ‘I like you.’ And you are sitting there thinking, ‘Sorry, wait, are we doing this?’ And he is looking you dead in the eye like, ‘Yes, we are.’ And I think that confidence is attractive.”
Adegbite’s comments have sparked conversations about evolving attitudes toward age-gap relationships in contemporary Nigerian society.
