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Popular media personality Toke Makinwa has recounted her struggles with gender discrimination in Nigeria’s male-dominated entertainment industry, revealing how she had to challenge the subtle but persistent marginalisation of women to earn professional recognition.
Speaking on MENTality with Ebuka, Makinwa reflected on her experiences in radio, where she co-hosted one of the station’s most important programmes, the morning show, yet often found herself overlooked by advertisers and marketers who routinely directed their requests to her male colleague.
“One day, I had to stop one of them and ask if I was invisible. I told him that my consent was also needed for the things they wanted to add to the show,” she said.
Describing her experience as a price paid by women who came before the younger generation, Makinwa said she was excited about the opportunities available to emerging female entertainers.
“It was not easy at all. I am super excited for the generation coming after us because we have paid the price for a lot of things they are enjoying today,” she added.
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She, however, singled out comedian Basketmouth and Ebuka for commendation, praising them for the respect and professional recognition she deserves whenever they co-host events.
Beyond navigating gender bias, Makinwa also spoke about the demands of motherhood and career, revealing that she did not take a break from work after welcoming her daughter.
On relationships, the mother of one personality identified security, appreciation and communication as three fundamental things women need from their partners, stressing that being heard and understood often matters more than receiving immediate solutions.
“Women are very transparent about what they want and need. They need communication. They might not necessarily spell out what they want,” she said.
According to her, repeatedly expressing the same concerns without feeling heard often leaves women frustrated, a situation she said is sometimes misconstrued as nagging.
Illustrating the importance of emotional support, Makinwa recounted an experience in which she approached her partner simply needing someone to listen rather than analyse or offer solutions.
“At that point, all I needed was a friend. I didn’t need a critical thinker. He just allowed me to rant until I got tired. Later, he came to me and shared his two cents. I love that because he allowed me to express myself first. He listened to me. When my man is complaining to me about something, I hear him out. I don’t sit there and judge him or tell him what he should have done better. It took me therapy to get here,” she stated.
