Category: Gen Z Dorm

Marriage, once considered the hallmark of adulthood and stability, is being redefined by Generation Z, the most educated, digitally connected, and socially conscious demographic to date. In 2025, the attitudes of Gen Z Nigerians and the world as a whole toward marriage and long-term relationships reflect a cultural shift rooted in self-awareness, economic reality, and emotional intelligence. This is not a rejection of love—but a clear recalibration of how commitment is understood and pursued.

Marriage Is No Longer the Default Life Path

Unlike previous generations, Gen Z does not view marriage as a compulsory milestone. A 2024 report by The Future Africa Research Institute revealed that only 42% of urban Gen Z Nigerians aged 20–28 see marriage as a priority before age 30, compared to 70% of millennials at the same age range a decade ago.

This change is driven by:

• Higher education levels among young Nigerians (with 60% enrollment increase in tertiary institutions between 2010 and 2023 — NUC data),
• Greater global exposure through social media, and
• A growing belief in personal fulfillment before partnership.

Marriage is increasingly seen as a choice, not a life requirement.

Economic Uncertainty Is Delaying Commitments

Gen Z is coming of age during one of the most volatile economic periods in Nigeria’s history. With youth unemployment at 33.6% as of Q1 2025 (NBS) and inflation driving up the cost of living, many young Nigerians are simply not in a position to consider marriage or child-rearing.

A wedding in urban Nigeria now averages ₦2.8 million, while setting up a home requires significant investment. As a result:

• More couples are choosing long-term dating over legal marriage.
• Cohabitation is quietly on the rise, even though culturally sensitive.
• “Soft life” goals—financial freedom, travel, self-care—are taking precedence.

This isn’t fear of marriage. It’s financial realism.

Emotional Intelligence Is Non-Negotiable

Another defining trait of Gen Z is their emphasis on mental health and emotional clarity. This generation is more likely to seek therapy, practice mindfulness, and openly discuss emotional trauma.

Unlike older generations that often viewed relationship endurance as a virtue; regardless of emotional harm—Gen Z prefers healthy relationships over long ones.

Key trends include:

• Increased relationship breakups when emotional needs aren’t met
• Greater acceptance of boundaries and therapy as part of dating
• Online discourse centered around healing and emotional literacy

The Role of Technology and Non-Traditional Relationships

Tech is another game-changer. Dating apps like Tinder, Badoo, and Bumble have normalized virtual dating and non-monogamous arrangements, creating more diverse relationship models.

Many Gen Z Nigerians are:

• Open to long-distance and online relationships
• Choosing non-traditional structures like open relationships, “talking stages,” or polyamory (still niche, but growing)
• Using tech to build emotionally meaningful connections without societal pressure

These dynamics are part of a broader trend—flexibility over formality.

Redefining the Purpose of Marriage

It’s important to note that Gen Z is not necessarily discarding the idea of marriage altogether. Instead, they’re redefining its purpose.
Today’s Gen Z Nigerian wants:

• Partnerships built on equality, not traditional gender roles
• Transparent financial expectations (e.g., conversations about joint income, bills, and personal goals)
• The freedom to choose if, when, and how they want to start a family (including child-free marriages or adoption)

Surveys conducted by She Leads Africa in 2024 showed that 61% of Gen Z women in Nigeria said they would only marry someone who supports their career and personal autonomy—a demand that reflects deep-rooted shifts in expectations.

Gen Z is not afraid of love. They’re simply more intentional, informed, and introspective than previous generations. With eyes wide open to the realities of modern life, they’re choosing relationships that reflect their values, support their growth, and respect their individuality and it goes for both male and female.

In 2025, marriage is no longer a finish line. For Gen Z, it’s just one of many ways to love; and only if it truly aligns with who they are becoming.

References

• The Future Africa Research Institute (2024). ‘Youth and Marriage in Urban Nigeria’ – National Attitude Survey.
• National Bureau of Statistics (2025). ‘Labour Force Report: Q1 2025’.
• Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC). Tertiary Enrollment Growth Reports, 2010–2023.
• She Leads Africa (2024). ‘Women, Work & Love: Aspirations of the Nigerian Gen Z Woman’ – Social Trends White Paper.
• X (formerly Twitter), TikTok Nigeria Trends, Instagram Nigeria Explore Feed – 2024/2025 Social Media Observation.
• Nigerian Wedding Cost Survey (2025). ‘Urban Wedding Planning Statistics in Lagos and Abuja’.
• Online Dating & Relationship Trends Nigeria (2024). A Report by TechLife Weekly Nigeria.

British-Nigerian designer Liz Sanya has completed her attempt to set a new record for the world’s largest sandal.

The pink clog sandal measures 3.156 meters (10 feet 4.2 inches) in width and 8.147 metres (26 feet 8.8 inches) in length.

Sanya began building the sandal on January 2,, 2025, after the GWR confirmed it, and completed it on January 4.

The sandal was constructed at Pixel Park in Lekki, Lagos, finishing her shoe on Jan. 4.

Celebrities including Mayorkun, Pheelz, P.Priime, and Taves, music entrepreneur Bizzle Osikoya, and filmmaker Korty were present to cheer her on and celebrate her ambition.

Reflecting on her drive for innovation and excellence, Liz stated:

I’ll never be able to put into words what any of this means to me, I started designing shoes when I was 12 and by 14 I was selling them to fund a ‘habit’ I couldn’t afford. None of this has been possible without the support and compassion of the people who see me and believe in my vision. Ibadan… where I was born. Lagos where I was inspired. It was only right to come back home and prove it. 1 world record to beat, within 72hrs…

See photos:

Udo Ebaide Joy, a Nigerian motorbiker took on the mantle of solo riding from Mumbasa, Kenya to Lagos Nigeria. After 118 days, Ebaide finally arrived at her destination, Lagos Nigeria.

Why? In a conversation she had with BBC Africa she said her riding journey was inspired by her will to live her life to the fullest, and for her it’s travelling and riding her motorbike.

Ebaide travelled through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon and then Nigeria. She describes the eery feeling she got travelling alone in the forest “I was so scared,” but remembers the joyous moments of travelling through those countries.

When she arrived in Lagos, to her surprise she was welcomed with a warm crowd singing and dancing.

In a post via Instagram, she said completing the cross-border solo ride challenge has positively changed her mindset.

“To every biker who waited to welcome and ride with me to the venue, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Achieving this has caused a big shift in my mind. Suddenly, I have a myriad of things I want to do and I’m so sure will work, because I have achieved something I once thought was too hard to dare.
I want to PLAN, START and EXECUTE new things.
There is a part of my brain that believes anything I try will succeed, because I have the tenacity and resilience to see it through.

I am NOT the same person.
I have changed in the most positive ways.
I feel so privileged to have achieved this.

I can’t wait for many more exciting challenges I’ll go headlong into.
There has never been a better time to feel this alive!
It feels good to be here.“

Udo Ebaide Joy who began her trip on March 8 will begin another solo trip in August from Nigeria to Morocco. The motorbiker made the trip on a two-wheeler she named “Rory”.

The 2024 and 10th editions of Forbes Africa’s annual 30 Under 30 list feature a well-diverse pool of African talents. The list contains some of the youngest and brightest in various fields, including entertainment, education, sports, technology, healthcare, art, and other industries.

On the list, we have talented Nigerians like the founder of Veekee James, Ruth Erikan James, singer-songwriter Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML), Super Eagles footballer Victor Osimhen, track and field athlete Tobi Amusan, and founder and CEO of Mainlogix Technology, Josiah Akinloye, amongst others.

This year’s edition theme is “Passion, Purpose, and A Decade of the 30 Under 30 List,” celebrating the passion, creativity, and impact of Africans globally.

According to Forbes, Africa’s influence globally is on the rise, with 1.45 billion people across 54 countries driving its economies, largely propelled by its youthful demographic. The United Nations reports that 70% of sub-Saharan Africa is under 30, and by 2050, over a third of the world’s youth will reside in Africa. Experts predict that the continent’s wealth lies in its young, predominantly female population, making them prime investment prospects for the future.

Nigerians featured on the list

1. Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan (Fireboy DML), 28, Nigeria
   Singer-songwriter
   Industry: Entertainment 
2. Victor Osimhen, 25, Nigeria
   Footballer and Striker for Super Eagles
   Industry: Sport (Football)
3. Tobi Amusan, 26, Nigeria
   Track and Field Athlete
   Industry: Sport-Athletics
4. Ruth Erikan James, 29, Nigeria
   Founder, Veekee James
   Industry: Fashion
5. Josiah Akinloye, 29, Nigeria
   Founder and CEO, Mainlogix Technology
   Industry: Automation and Technology

“For a decade, we have unpacked the unmistakable potential and story of Africa’s youth. And Forbes Africa’s 10th 30 Under 30 list too has ambition and adrenaline packed into this special issue. These purpose-minded 20-something achievers are on the way up, overcoming the odds in their quest to become tomorrow’s titans and billionaires, making a huge difference in the countries, companies, and communities they serve,” Forbes Africa, Managing Editor, Renuka Methil.

To get featured on the list, applications need to be submitted via official channels. Part of the rigorous reporting and vetting process also involved going through social media profiles, police clearance reports, reference letters from financial institutions, and testimonials from colleagues, collaborators, business partners, and employees of the short-listed nominees.

Background checks were conducted on potential candidates, which included reviewing documentation to ensure there are no criminal records, troubling lawsuits or bankruptcy, and/or allegations of crime, misconduct, sexual harassment, abuse, or fraud.

According to the latest Forbes List of the Youngest Richest People in the World (as of April 9, 2024), the youngest are 19-year-old teenagers.

The youngest, Clemente Del Vecchio and Livia Voigt, make their money from eyeglasses and industrial machinery, respectively.

According to the new list, there are no self-made billionaires under 30 for the first time in 15 years.

Remi Dassault (23)

Net Worth: $2.5B

Source: Inheritance

Remi Dassault, French, is the son of Olivier Dassault and grandson of Marcel Dassault, the founder of Dassault Aviation. Dassault Aviation is a French aerospace company founded during World War I.

Kim Jung-min (22)

Net Worth: $1.4B

Source: Online Gaming

Kim Jung-min, a South Korean, is the daughter of Kim Jung-ju, the late founder of the gaming company Nexon. According to reports, she inherited 18% of her father’s company but doesn’t actively participate in the operations of the company.

Luca Del Vecchio (22)

Net Worth: $4.7B

Source: Eyeglasses

Luca Del Vecchio is one of the sons of the late chairman of EssilorLuxottica, the world’s largest eyeglass firm. He inherited 12.5% of his late father’s holding company, Delfin.

Delfin also owns insurer Generali, banks Mediobanca and UniCredit, and real estate developer Covivio.

Kevin David Lehmann (21)

Net Worth: $3.1B

Source: Drugstores

The German received 50% of his father’s stake in the drugstore DM (drogerie market). The company has annual revenue of over $17 billion.

In 1974, Kevin David Lehmann’s father, Guenther, then running his family’s Pfannkuch grocery chain, invested in DM; it currently has over 3,700 locations

Kim Jung-youn (20)

Net Worth: $1.4B

Source: Online Gaming

Kim Jung-youn is the younger sister of Kim Jung-min. She owns 18% of NXC, the largest shareholder in Nexon. Her money was an inheritance from her father; neither she nor her sister have been involved in Nexon’s operation.

Livia Voigt (19)

Net Worth: $5M

Source: Industrial Machinery

Livia Voigt is the heiress of an electrical machines company named WEG. The 19-year-old Brazilian is currently a student of psychology at the university. WEG is the largest manufacturer of electrical motors in Latin America, and Livia sits on approximately 3% of the company’s shares, making her one of the largest individual shareholders of WEG.

WEG, established in 1961 by Werner Ricardo Voigt, Eggon João da Silva, and Geraldo Werninghaus, currently holds a market valuation of approximately $31.45 billion.

Clemente Del Vecchio (19)

Net Worth: $4.7B

Source: Eyeglasses

Clemente Del Vecchio is one of the six children of Leonardo Del Vecchio, the late chairman of EssilorLuxottica, the world’s largest eyeglass firm. He is one of two children Del Vecchio had with Sabina Grossi, Luxottica’s former head of investor relations, along with his brother Luca.

Clemente inherited his wealth from his father.

As an African, if you have family abroad, it is by default that you think they are living comfortably abroad. It’s one of the promises we make to ourselves when we apply for visas.

Reality hits differently when we travel and see the world with our eyes, and it is sad that those back home don’t see the same thing. A Nigerian TikTok user posted a video called Miss Yusuf.

Miss Yusuf argues why Africans who travel abroad for “greener pastures” remain poor. Her argument points out certain mistakes, including behaviour and perspective.

She claims people create a false perception or identity of themselves when they travel abroad, which makes people back home think they’re something they’re not.

According to her, when some travel abroad, they include country flags in their names, post pictures with designers, and create false personas that diverge from reality. This makes people think they must be rich, so they bill (ask for money).

They work double but can’t keep up to sustain this deceptive lifestyle. While this seems harmless, she warns against living such a life.

Watch the video below:

Here are some replies:

callie_segura said; “This why moving in silence is so important!!!”

chikepaschal said; “IF THEY BILL YOU BLOCK THEM.”

George sh said; “My girlfriend told me to stop all this billing st and focus more on myself and I’m happy I c.”

somethinghungry girl said; “Someone once told me it’s better to spend money on your self and dress up than to save. I just smh.”

Noekie + said; “my parents came in the late 80s in New York. it was no time to be showing off.”

We all agree the internet sometimes can make you feel seen, heard or give voice to the voiceless but with all that benefits comes the risk.

While it is easy to find your community or gain a platform, it is also easy to get destroyed. Stalkers and Hacker constantly monitoring to get every little details about your life or worst – Big Tech!

Tech companies tasked to keep you safe on the internet are looking for data to profit off you. The benefits of the internet or social media can be from being at the top of your class in school or being 6ft under – there are countless stories.

To keep yourself safe and protected online and offline, take your power to your hands. Read carefully and practice these 10 things you shouldn’t post on the internet.

1. Your home address

Either written or unwritten, it is a common knowledge that you shouldn’t doxx individuals on the internet. For you, that means do not post your home address. Be mindful of the pictures you take, conversations you have, whatever can make it easy for anyone to locate you avoid putting it on the internet.

2. Your current location

Same as the first, it is always advisable to “post where you’ve been and not where you are.” A lot of people ignorantly think this rule applies to those with ops but here’s a shocker we all have ops. Just like they say, better safe than sorry.

3. Full Government Issued ID

The boss level of individual data scrappers are your IDs, specifically those issued by the government. In Nigeria, if someone have your NIN or BVN it is very easy to ruin your life. I just can’t fathom all crimes that can be committed with your identity.

4. Passwords

When having conversations in DMs, you can be so moved by the conversation or individual and be compelled to handout your secret password – please don’t. These kinds of information need to be shared with extra layer of protection and keep in mind what I told you about government issued ID.

5. Flight Plans/Tickets

Be a Nigerian when it comes to this. Only tell people you’ve landed hours or days later. It can be a fun and exciting news to let people know you’re traveling from a Point A to Point B but this kind of information are better kept secrets. This also involves tickets, don’t post images or details of your tickets. When taken travel pictures be mindful the details you end up posting, screen twice of necessary.

6. Intimate Photos

Sadly, we live in a world of leaks; personal data or bedroom photos can easily be leaked as it is easy to share. Unless there’s 100% unbreakable trust it is always advised not to, for any reason share this category of photos.

This is obviously an advice and to all adults, you are capable of making your own decisions as long as you’re aware of the risk. Please share to others!

Responding to a post on X (fkaTwitter), a man narrated the real reason why he had to pull the plug in his relationship. The original post was by @HinduMustafa, who asked, “What killed your feelings for someone you were once madly in love with?”

The man who go by Retired Uncle (@uncle_retired) quoted the post and his response caused a discussion on TwitterNG. “She hated it when I helped anyone financially. As long as I’m not giving her the money, I shouldn’t give anyone else,” he said. She would always point out something unnecessary that she could do with that money I just wasted as she termed it. For instance, I could give a family 20k to buy food and she will say “you just wasted that money on people that may be lying to you. The money I could have used for a spa day”

Retired Uncle went on to describe who she was: “You guessed it, she was a “Zainab” too. WITCH“

Here are some of the replies the man got:

From @LanaseUsman: “Congratulations to you sir. A woman like this will not allow you help ANYBODY, not even your family and friends. She will also cause enmity between you and your family members. I am happy for you o. some men don enter am like this.”

From @Nefisah001: “Congratulations. Your eye for peel, I have a married friend whose wife is like this and it is hell, even if the money goes to his own family she’ll complain. Lastly, please o, all the Zainabs I know are amazing pple. Maybe her real name is Precious”

From @iamokecrown: “I have a friend who does the exact same thing… She can’t stand her parents giving money to anyone that is not her. I once visited her and the mother dashed me 5K. She became restless and even stopped talking to me.”