Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has advised married men against becoming financially dependent on their wives, saying men should take seriously what he sees as their traditional responsibility to provide for their families. The 79-year-old actor made the comments during a recent appearance on Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask, where he discussed marriage, gender roles and family leadership.
Edochie’s remarks are his personal views on marriage rather than a legal, religious or universal rule about how couples should manage their finances. Modern households often divide financial responsibilities according to income, circumstances and agreements between partners.
The actor was responding to a question about the idea of a man becoming a househusband and relying on his wife financially.
“Don’t pray for your wife to feed you,” Edochie said.
According to the Vanguard report, he argued that a man who finds himself depending on his wife for basic needs could face ridicule and emotional distress.
Edochie speaks on men providing for their families
Edochie presented his position as advice to men, linking financial responsibility to his traditional understanding of a husband’s role within the family.
His comments have again placed the veteran actor at the centre of a wider debate about marriage, financial independence and changing gender roles in Nigerian society.
There is no requirement that a husband must be the sole breadwinner in a marriage, and Edochie’s comments should therefore be understood as his own perspective.
Many couples have arrangements in which both partners work and contribute financially. In other households, circumstances such as unemployment, illness, childcare or career changes may temporarily make one spouse the main earner.
New Daily Prime has previously reported on similar debates surrounding marriage and financial independence. In one case, Ivy Ifeoma, wife of singer Paul Okoye, encouraged women to build their own financial security rather than seeing marriage to a wealthy man as a substitute for personal independence.
Read: Ivy Ifeoma defends marriage to Paul Okoye
Actor also questions kneeling during marriage proposals
During the same interview, Edochie also returned to a position he has expressed in the past about men kneeling when proposing marriage.
He argued that a man who goes down on one knee to present an engagement ring is symbolically surrendering leadership of the family to the woman.
“If you step down on your knee and you offer a woman a ring, you are conceding headship of the family to that woman,” he said.
When asked to withdraw the statement, he declined.
The position is not new. Edochie made similar comments several years ago, arguing that kneeling to propose was not part of traditional Igbo marriage practice. His comments sparked disagreement at the time, including from people who regarded kneeling as simply a modern romantic gesture rather than a statement about authority within marriage.
His son, actor Yul Edochie, previously offered a more flexible interpretation, saying that while kneeling may not traditionally be Igbo practice, the way a man proposes does not by itself determine whether a marriage will succeed.
The latest comments came during the same Curiosity Made Me Ask interview in which Pete Edochie discussed other subjects, including his acting career and his admiration for late Nigerian politician Obafemi Awolowo. Reports published on Saturday and Sunday confirmed the veteran actor’s appearance on the programme.
New Daily Prime has also covered other public figures offering relationship advice. Singer Naira Marley, for example, previously urged single people to consider peace and compatibility when deciding whom to marry.
Read: Naira Marley offers relationship advice to singles
Veteran actress Tina Mbah has also spoken about marriage from a different perspective, urging female actors not to abandon their careers simply because they marry.
What readers should know
Pete Edochie’s comments reflect his personal and traditional view of marriage, particularly his belief that husbands should provide financially and retain leadership within the family. They are not rules that couples are required to follow. Financial arrangements differ from one marriage to another, and couples may choose to share responsibilities or adapt their roles according to their circumstances.
Related news
- Ivy Ifeoma defends marriage to Paul Okoye
- Naira Marley offers relationship advice to singles
- Don’t quit acting for marriage, Tina Mbah urges colleagues
