Summary: Nollywood actress Mary Remmy Njoku is calling out the hypocrisy in how Nigerian society labels women who benefit from wealthy men — while giving men a free pass for doing the exact same thing.**
Nollywood actress and ROK Studios CEO Mary Remmy Njoku has thrown a stone into still waters, and the ripples are spreading fast across social media. In her characteristic no-nonsense style, Mary is calling out something many of us have quietly observed but rarely said out loud — the glaring double standard in how society judges women versus men who move in the circles of wealthy people.
Her message was sharp and simple: If a woman benefits from a rich man’s generosity, she gets the “gold digger” label slapped on her faster than you can say “aso-ebi.” But what about the squad of 17 men who eat his food, spend his money, ride in his cars, and proudly call themselves his boys? What exactly do we call them?
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The “Boys” Get a Pass — But Why?
We’ve all seen it. A wealthy Oga rolls into a function and behind him is a whole entourage — friends, cousins, hangers-on, and “business associates” who haven’t closed a business deal in years. They chop his money, wear clothes he bought, and bask in his reflected glory. Nobody raises an eyebrow.
But the moment a woman is seen enjoying that same man’s generosity? Tongues start wagging. WhatsApp groups catch fire. Suddenly she has “no self-respect” and is only after his money.
Mary Remmy Njoku is asking us — quite rightly — to examine that logic. Because when you hold it up to the light, it simply does not make sense.
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A Very Nigerian Problem
This double standard is deeply embedded in Nigerian culture. We have been conditioned to celebrate men who “take care of their boys” as generous and loyal, while women who receive similar generosity are immediately suspected of having ulterior motives.
The truth? Financial opportunism has no gender. Whether you are a man collecting “transport money” from your rich friend or a woman receiving gifts from an admirer, the behaviour is fundamentally the same. The only difference is the story society chooses to tell about it.
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Mary Remmy Njoku Is Not New to This Conversation
This is not the first time the actress and entrepreneur has used her platform to challenge outdated thinking. Mary has consistently spoken about women’s empowerment, self-worth, and the unrealistic expectations placed on Nigerian women. As the brain behind ROK Studios — one of Africa’s leading content production companies — she understands the power of narrative and who controls it.
And right now, she wants us to rewrite the narrative.
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The Real Question
So the next time someone is quick to brand a woman a gold digger for accepting a dinner, a gift, or financial support from a wealthy man, pause and ask yourself:
– Are the men in his inner circle paying their own way?
– Are his “boys” funding their own lifestyle independently?
– Or are they, too, benefitting from his wealth — just without the judgment?
Mary Remmy Njoku has put the question on the table. Now it’s time for Nigerian society to give it an honest answer.
What do you think? Is there a double standard in how we judge men and women around wealthy people? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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