Nollywood actress, Yvonne Jegede, has opened up on her view concerning marriage, describing it as something she considers overrated.

“I think it’s overrated. A lot of people date for 15 years or 17 years, then they marry, and after two or three years they break up,” Yvonne said.

“Sometimes you wonder if it was the marriage they wanted or just the title, because once that tag is there, there’s a lot of intolerance, ‘you’re my wife, why did you do that?’ and the woman will say ‘are you not my husband?’ All those things come up.”

The actress, who has been in the Nigerian film industry for over two decades, spoke while reflecting on her career and personal experiences, noting that fulfilment should not be defined by societal expectations around marriage.

She urged women to prioritise personal happiness and emotional well-being over pressure to conform.

During the interview on a live Radio program, Naija FM, Yvonne also spoke extensively about her philanthropic work, revealing that she recently formalised her foundation to expand support for children and single parents.

She explained that what began as personal assistance to a few children has grown into a structured initiative due to rising education costs and the need for sustainability.

“Some of the children I’ve been supporting will be graduating soon, and I realised it cannot just stop there because school fees keep increasing and everything keeps getting more expensive,” she said.

“I asked myself how I can reach more children and still continue supporting those already under my care, which is why I decided to officially register the foundation this year.”

The producer said the foundation, which she has largely funded herself over the years, currently supports about 18 children and has expanded to include aid for single parents, including single fathers. She added that her focus is on providing stable educational support rather than placing children in orphanages.

Emphasising her views on marriage and personal choice, Jegede said women should not feel pressured to meet societal timelines, adding, “Just find what works for you and makes you happy. Once it works for you, then it works — nobody should be forced into a box.”