Nigerian author and social commentator Reno Omokri is once again making headlines—this time for his provocative take on age differences in marriage.
In a recent social media post, Omokri urged men to think twice before marrying women their age or slightly younger, claiming that such unions could lead to long-term dissatisfaction, health risks, and even marital failure.
According to Omokri, biological and emotional compatibility play a crucial role in marital longevity. Drawing on religious references, he said, “God created Adam first. Adam was already well settled and established before Eve was created for him. They were not age mates or even in the same age bracket.”
He went further to argue that men tend to remain sexually active well into their nineties, while women typically reach menopause in their forties.
“What will you do then?” he asked his male audience, suggesting the alternatives are celibacy, extramarital affairs, or a risk of prostate cancer due to prolonged abstinence.
The post also included a controversial claim: “Men who marry significantly younger women tend to live longer than those who marry age mates or older women.” Omokri warned that marrying an older woman is akin to “playing Russian Roulette.”
Though he refrained from directly criticizing the British monarchy, he cited Queen Camilla—who is older than King Charles III—as a subtle example of age-disparate relationships that defy traditional norms.
Public Reaction
The post has sparked a flurry of reactions online, with critics calling Omokri’s remarks outdated and misogynistic, while others praised him for “speaking hard truths” rarely addressed in public discourse.
Many feminists and relationship experts have taken issue with the biologically deterministic view, arguing that emotional intelligence, mutual respect, and shared goals are far more crucial to marital success than age gaps.
