Nollywood actress Damilola Adegbite has observed what she describes as a noticeable shift in Nigeria’s dating culture, with younger men increasingly showing interest in women older than themselves.
The actress made the observation during a recent episode of her podcast, which was shared on her YouTube channel, while reflecting on changing attitudes towards age and relationships.
According to Adegbite, women have traditionally been made to feel that their prospects in the dating scene diminish once they reach a particular age. She argued, however, that attitudes appear to be changing, with younger men becoming more open about their attraction to older women.
The 41-year-old actress used a biblical reference to illustrate what she sees as the reversal of an old social narrative, suggesting that women who were once overlooked are now being regarded as highly desirable.
“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.
“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.
“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 touch on broader conversations surrounding age, confidence and changing expectations in modern relationships.
Her observation also challenges the traditional perception that women face a shrinking pool of romantic opportunities as they grow older, particularly in societies where greater emphasis has historically been placed on women marrying at a younger age.
By highlighting the confidence with which some younger men now express their attraction to older women, Adegbite suggested that the dynamics of dating are becoming less rigid and that age differences may be receiving less attention than they once did.
Her remarks have since added to an ongoing public conversation about relationships, age preferences and the changing expectations surrounding women and dating in contemporary Nigerian society.