Nigerian comedian Klinton Cod, born Ekene Clinton Egbuna, has stirred debate online after telling women they “need marriage more than men” and urging them to relearn what it means to be wives.

In a lengthy post on X, the UK-based comic drew from what he described as a growing trend among women in North America. According to him, many American and Canadian women over 35 are now freezing their eggs because they fear they may not find life partners.

He claimed that a brief conversation with some of these women reveals why “men struggle to stay with them,” warning that Nigerian women could be heading in the same direction within a few years if they do not adjust their attitudes toward relationships and marriage.

Addressing women who desire marriage and family life, Klinton Cod advised them to look to older generations for guidance. He urged them to learn from their mothers’ approach to partnership and home-building, stressing values he believes are essential for sustaining marriages.

He listed loyalty, practicality, kindness, respect and consideration as key traits women should cultivate if they hope to attract and keep husbands. In his view, these qualities once defined many African mothers and grandmothers and helped them maintain long-term unions despite challenges.

Klinton Cod went further to argue that, culturally and socially, marriage carries a different weight for women than for men. When a follower on X agreed that women need marriage more, the comedian doubled down, describing marriage as “a huge trophy” for women.

His comments have added to ongoing conversations about shifting gender roles, the pressure on women to marry by a certain age and the growing use of reproductive technology by career-focused or single women. Supporters say he is sounding an important warning about attitudes that may undermine long-term relationships. Critics, however, accuse him of placing the burden of successful marriages almost entirely on women and of framing marriage as a prize rather than a partnership.

Despite the backlash, Klinton Cod has not walked back his remarks, maintaining that women who genuinely want husbands and families should be intentional about the values they bring into relationships.