A Nigerian woman has ignited a significant online conversation about marriage expectations and the true meaning of a 'providing man' in contemporary relationships.
Ijeoma Chinonyerem shared her perspective in response to a post by Damilola Christian Amadi, who had advised women to marry 'providing' men even if they earn significantly less than them.
Redefining What Makes a Provider
Chinonyerem made a crucial distinction that has resonated with many Nigerians. She clarified that a providing man isn't necessarily wealthy or someone who outearns his wife.
'And let me add, he said a PROVIDING man, not a man who is richer than you,' she wrote. 'A providing man provides whether you outearn him or not. It's not a matter of account balance. It's a mindset thing.'
The Reality of Modern Nigerian Marriages
The social media commentator highlighted the reality that some women married to multimillionaires still lack provision from their husbands, despite the men's substantial wealth.
'There are women married to multimillionaires who outearn them yet these men don't provide,' she observed. 'They'll be answering nwunye odogwu for mouth.'
Conversely, she pointed out that many women married to men they financially outperform still experience genuine provision and responsibility from their partners.
A Warning About Misinterpreted Scripture
Chinonyerem didn't hold back when addressing what she sees as the misuse of the 'Proverbs 31 woman' concept in modern relationships.
She cautioned women against allowing this biblical reference to pressure them into partnerships with men she described as 'non-head giving, non-toilet flushing baddie whom you provide for.'
Her final advice was clear and direct: 'Go for that mindset, not the money wey you dey see cos you fit no taste am.'
The conversation, which originated on November 28, 2025, continues to generate significant engagement across Nigerian social media platforms as people weigh in on this timely discussion about marriage, provision, and gender roles.
