Former Big Brother Naija star and businesswoman Uriel Oputa has taken a stand against age-shaming, particularly towards women.
In an Instagram post, Uriel called out Nigerian men who shame women for growing older, questioning why a natural part of life should be used as an insult.
The reality TV star emphasised that ageing is a privilege, stating that she would rather grow older than die young.
She said, “This is going to be pinpointed to Nigerian men. It is an insult to God to use age discrimination against a woman, so I posted a video and you are not coherent with what the video teaches you, what you get out of the video is ‘oh you’re getting older,’ because you’re not smart enough to digest and use the concept that was taught to you to better your life but what you hold on to is that you’re getting old.
“Think twice before insulting a woman because she is growing gracefully and beautifully, it is not an insult to age, it’s a blessing.
“There is no shame in aging, aging is a privilege. I’d rather grow old than be six feet under with regrets. Some people have all the money in the world and still wish they had one more day to breathe. Don’t mock what you cannot understand, one day life will remind you.”
The video has since sparked positive reactions online, with fans praising her confidence and refusal to succumb to societal pressure.
Media Talk Africa has compiled some of the reactions below:
@dreamgirl_kaiyra wrote, “Once you are a woman in your thirties they make it look like it is over, I’m 33 and I’m so loving this life God has giving me, not all 33 are alive.”
@chidawryz commented, “Ageing is a blessing.”
@iamtracygeorge said, “Preach sis.”
@chiomaad reacted, “School them sis, they don’t know we all get older each new day. Ageing is a privilege, imagine when you age in sound health, that is a blessing. I’m so grateful to be alive, healthy, growing older and wiser each day.”
@pureflower wrote, “Ask them if their mothers did not age.”
@teebrands.t commented, “They’ll be alright, pay them no mind my pretty UU.”
@official_amanda_o reacted, “We pray against dying young, yet turn around to mock women for aging. Now being in your thirties is suddenly too old? What exactly do they expect, for women to be stuck in their twenties forever? And the irony? Most of these men doing the age shaming are well into their own years, with little to show for it.”
