Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has stirred reactions on social media after saying that cooking should not be seen as a gender role, while stressing that a woman’s inability to cook could be a setback in marriage.
Omokri, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, shared his opinion in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Eating out is a threat to family’s income
According to him, eating out regularly because a wife cannot cook could drain a family’s income and threaten financial stability.
He wrote: “A wife who cannot cook will cost you so much of your paycheck because you will probably have to eat out more than you can afford. The compounded costs over time can actually ruin your chances of financial success.”
Cooking is not a gender role
Omokri went on to point out that cooking is not tied to gender, citing the Bible as an example. He added: “It is not about cooking being a gender role. No. Even in the Bible, Jacob cooked for his family. Cooking is NOT gender specific! But if you are the main breadwinner and pay all the bills, what time would you have to cook and still rest enough to be productive?”
He concluded by saying that a woman’s inability to cook should be considered a “deal breaker” for a man who is ambitious and hardworking.
Omokri’s statement sparks reactions
His statement has divided opinions online. While some agreed with him, arguing that cooking is an essential life skill for both men and women, others criticised his view as unfair and outdated.
Many users insisted that modern relationships should be based on mutual support, where responsibilities like cooking can be shared.
The debate continues to attract attention, highlighting how traditional expectations and modern realities often clash in discussions about marriage and gender roles.