Renowned media personality Toke Makinwa has opened up about her twenties, reflecting on the lessons she learned while devoting much of that time to a single relationship.
Speaking on the podcast Cocktails and Takeaways, Makinwa shared candid insights into her personal journey and offered advice to young women about the importance of self-discovery.
“I don’t think I liked my twenties. I don’t think I knew what I was doing,” Makinwa admitted. “In my twenties, I was in love with one man. I spent my entire twenties following one man.”
Now an accomplished figure in media, Makinwa said her experiences have shaped who she is today but emphasized the need for young people to focus on finding themselves before committing to long-term relationships.
“If I could turn back the hands of time, I’m grateful that I am where I am. My experiences have shaped me,” she said.
“But I tell a lot of young people: You have no business in your early or mid-twenties getting married. Figure yourself out. Know you.”
Makinwa encouraged young women not to succumb to societal pressure to marry early, instead urging them to prioritize personal growth.
“At 22, why are you married at 22?” she asked rhetorically. “If it works for you, I’m not knocking it. They say age is nothing but a number, and I agree. But I feel like, as women, we mature faster than the guys.”
She highlighted the transformative nature of one’s twenties, explaining that people inevitably grow and evolve during that period. “You are not going to be the same person at 30. It’s just not possible. You are growing. You will grow into new things, new ideas, new personalities,” Makinwa said. “You must be able to make room to accept who you are before bringing the burden of somebody else.”
