Media personality and former radio presenter Toke Makinwa has shared her views on transactional relationships, saying she believes relationships between men and women have always involved an exchange of value.
Speaking on the MENtality Podcast, hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, with Toolz and Banky W also in attendance, Toke argued that the concept of transactional relationships is nothing new.
According to Makinwa, the dynamic between men and women has been transactional since biblical times.
“I think 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.”
❝I think 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…❞
– Toke Makinwa pic.twitter.com/1aqqdlVpXc
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) July 4, 2026
The media personality also advised people to date within their financial means, arguing that income and lifestyle differences often create unnecessary problems in relationships.
She maintained that many men pursue women whose lifestyles they cannot comfortably afford, only to later accuse them of being materialistic.
“I am a big believer of date within your age and within your class. That way there will not be stories that touch.”
Toke further criticized men who abandon loyal partners to pursue women whose lifestyles exceed their financial means.
According to her, some women stand by their partners during difficult times, yet still face betrayal.
“You will have a good girl at home, a girl who will even make dinner with her own money when you don’t have. Yet, some men will still want to cheat on her with a woman they can’t afford.”
She also explained why some women are hesitant to build relationships with men who are still struggling financially.
According to Makinwa, many fear that once those men become successful, their behaviour toward the women who supported them changes.
“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 added:
“And that scares women. Money doesn’t change people; it just reveals who a person is. So many men are treating women who sacrificed everything for them badly.”
Toke Makinwa’s comments have sparked online conversations about love, finances, and relationship expectations, with some agreeing that financial compatibility is important. In contrast, others argue that genuine relationships should be built primarily on trust, commitment, and shared values rather than economic status.
