Nigerian comedian Bovi has set tongues wagging after calling out parents for “criminalizing dating culture” and unintentionally sabotaging future marriages.
In a recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, the comic genius dropped some hard truths about growing up in Nigerian households where dating was treated like a crime. According to him, this strict upbringing has caused many adults to miss crucial relationship milestones.
“Most Nigerian parents don’t want to hear about boyfriends and girlfriends. But fast forward to a certain age, and suddenly, they’re shouting, ‘Where’s your husband?’ From where?!” Bovi quipped.
The comedian argued that young people are not allowed to experience harmless dating stages—like going to the movies, writing love letters, or taking innocent walks. “If your parents caught you with a love letter back then, they’d scream like you committed murder,” he joked.
Bovi didn’t stop there. He blamed this rigid mindset for the high rate of failed marriages, saying many adults enter into relationships with “unfulfilled dreams of dating.” He added:
If you date properly when you’re young, by the time you get married, you won’t feel like you’re missing out. You’ve already done it all!
His comments have sparked massive reactions on social media, with many agreeing that the pressure to suppress dating during youth can lead to rushed or unstable marriages later in life.
Bovi’s take challenges Nigerian parents to rethink their approach: Is it time to embrace open conversations about dating instead of treating it as taboo?
For the full unfiltered conversation, check out Bovi’s episode on The Honest Bunch Podcast.
