A Nigerian Cambridge scholar, Mkpouto Pius, sparked a heated debate online by criticizing Nigerian men for their attitudes towards women achieving success in marriage.
The controversy began when Pius took to social media to laud Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s husband, Dr. Ikemba Iweala, for his supportive role during her recent 70th birthday celebrations.
It may be recalled that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is currently serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Pius praised Dr. Iweala for his apparent non-threatening support of his wife’s illustrious career, contrasting it with what she perceives as a prevailing inferiority complex among Nigerian men.
In her post, Pius challenged men to showcase tangible support for their wives’ ambitions rather than offering analogies from other successful women’s marriages.
“Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday and Nigerian alpha males took that as an opportunity to advise women as usual.
Telling us that you can be married and still achieve your dreams.
Me: 😂😂😂😂
Sir, don’t use another woman as example. Use your wife!
Yes. Show us what your wife has achieved since she married you.
Let’s be very clear about this, 98% of Nigerian men cannot be like this woman’s husband.
Yes I pulled the stats out of my armpit. Bite me.
A large majority of these men suffer very deep-seated inferiority complex.
How many of you can marry a woman who is far well known than you, and you agree to dissolve into obscurity and support her quietly from the background?
How many? Raise your hands let’s count 🙋🏽♂️
I have heard a Nigerian man say that he can’t marry a woman who is working because she will not respect him.
Imagine if such a man was married to Ngozi. She would have had to either divorce him or never become DG of World Bank
So I’m telling you what I know.
Ngozi went to Harvard. I know how difficult it is to go to schools like that. Very intense. Cambridge almost broke me. You barely have time to do anything other than study.
And from what I read, her husband was in her life when she went to Harvard”.. Pius partly wrote.
The critique did not go unnoticed, with one Nigerian man, Ikenna Nwaogwugwu, calling her out over the remark.
Nwaogwugwu, a graduate of Abia State University (ABSU), argued that Pius’s comments painted Nigerian women as inadequate and lacking self-esteem.
“But do you have okonjo iweala’s brain. Ikenna asked. Can you achieve 0.1% of what she has achieved and the man in question is a neurosurgeon.
“He is assured in himself. He doesn’t need to overshadow he literally pulls people from the brink of assured death.
“What does he need to show himself for ?? He is what he is and she is what she is. She can’t do his job but I bet you he can do hers if granted the opportunity.
“Yet she still respects his and respects herself least of all, she no dey Facebook dey miss yarn. What is all these need to always compare your selves to men.?
“Are y’all inadequate?? Do you lack a healthy self esteem??, he added.
Surprisingly, Pius swiftly responded to Nwaogwugwu’s criticism, targeting his alma mater and suggesting that his lack of comprehension of her perspective reflected poorly on his intelligence quotient (IQ).
…“So Mr Ikenna that went to ABSU is telling me that I don’t have Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s brain. Let me do small analysis.
“Abia State University (ABSU) is where people go when they cannot get into a Federal University. ABSU is one of the most lowly ranked universities in Nigeria.
“I didn’t create those rankings, I’m just telling you what I have seen in the ranking index. It is very easy to get into ABSU. No high IQ required, as long as you can pay fees, you’re in. It’s mostly for Federal University rejects.
This man tells me, that attended The University of Cambridge on a full scholarship from Bill Gates Foundation, that I don’t have high IQ Cambridge that will not admit you if you didn’t make a First class, and very high one.., Pius said in part.
