Media personality and actress Toke Makinwa has shared a deeply personal experience that changed her approach to relationships, revealing why she no longer buys gifts for men she dates.
The television host made the disclosure during a recent episode of her Toke Moments podcast, where she hosted reality TV star Beauty Tukura. While discussing love, dating, and past experiences, Makinwa reflected on an incident from her university days that she says left a lasting emotional impact.
According to the media personality, she was in a relationship with a man who was 10 years older than her while she was still an undergraduate. Determined to make his birthday special, she said she sacrificed her semester's school fees to fund the celebration, including taking him to an upscale Italian restaurant in Victoria Island.
However, what was meant to be a memorable occasion took a painful turn when she discovered that the man had been unfaithful.
Recounting the experience, Makinwa said the incident permanently changed her perspective on buying gifts for romantic partners.
“I stopped buying men gifts after I dated a man who was 10 years older than me. I spent my university semester’s school fees to celebrate his birthday and took him to an Italian restaurant in Victoria Island.
“He ordered everything on the menu. When we got home…there was another woman in his house. That broke me.”
The actress explained that the betrayal was emotionally devastating, describing it as an experience that deeply traumatised her. Since then, she said, she has chosen not to buy gifts for men she is romantically involved with.
Makinwa's revelation has sparked conversations on social media, with many users sharing mixed reactions. While some sympathised with her and described the experience as heartbreaking, others argued that personal experiences often shape people's views on relationships and expressions of affection.
The podcast episode adds to a series of candid conversations by the media personality, who has frequently spoken about relationships, self-worth, and personal growth, often using her platform to share lessons from her life experiences.