Iyke said, “A woman can’t raise a man. You can’t, you’re not built for it. A single mother cannot raise a man properly. You need a male influence.”
"A single mother cannot raise a boy properly. He needs a male influence" – Actor Jim Iyke. pic.twitter.com/tgLTynwWpC
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) August 18, 2025
Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has sparked widespread debate after asserting that single mothers cannot raise boys into “proper men” without male influence.
Speaking in an interview with Okay 101.7 FM in Accra, Ghana, Iyke said, “A woman can’t raise a man. You can’t, you’re not built for it. A single mother cannot raise a man properly. You need a male influence.”
He argued that while women are naturally nurturing, discipline and resilience in boys require a father figure or trusted male presence. “Because women are naturally built to nurture, to love. And then what you’re going to raise is a very weak man,” he added.
To illustrate his point, Iyke recalled a beach holiday where his four-year-old son was bullied over a football. He said he refused to intervene, insisting his wife also stand back. The boy eventually fought back and reclaimed his ball, an outcome Iyke described as proof of “tough leadership.”