Redefining Success: Etinosa Idemudia On Life Beyond Marriage And Kids

Nollywood actress Etinosa Idemudia has counseled women to develop their sense of self-worth and follow their dreams without letting society dictate how they should live their lives.

Speaking about the lessons she would teach her daughter about media personality Egungun.

The actress said, “If I don’t teach my daughter anything, I would teach her how to respect herself, how to value herself, because a woman who respects herself can never be disrespected by anyone.”

“Marriage is not an achievement. Having children is not an achievement. She will do whatever she wants to do at her own time, at her own pace.”

“Hard work is part of it, but I can never say that hard work is all of it because there are some people who act far more than me, who work far harder than me, but I might be more recognised than them or I might be more successful than them. Like the Bible says, ‘Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God brings the increase’. It’s not just hard work. Hard work alone is not enough, just like love alone is not enough in marriage.”

“I feel we women need to work twice as hard to get the recognition or applause for what a man will work half as hard for. So, as a woman, you need to be on top of your game.”

She also urged women not to lose confidence because of criticism or false accusations often directed at successful females.

Etinosa said, “You need to close your ears to people who say, ‘Oh, she didn’t get it by merit. She went to sleep with somebody.’ Women will never stop calling a successful woman names. So block your ears to the noise. Stay grounded. Stay focused. Study people who have made it ahead of you. Do not envy. Be inspired. Do not be jealous.”

I’ve often heard people say that marriage and children are not true achievements, but I believe they are meaningful milestones in life. If they are not achievements, then what are they?

For many, they represent love, commitment, family, and the creation of a legacy. Ultimately, what matters most is living a life of purpose, integrity, and fulfillment—whether that includes marriage and children or not.