“There Is Really No Such Thing as an Independent Woman” – Mary Njoku

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mary Njoku has sparked conversation with her perspective on the so-called “independent woman.”

In an Instagram post, Njoku argued that women often appear independent not out of choice, but because of a lack of reliable support. She emphasized that no one truly wants to navigate life alone, and independence often emerges when consistent support is absent.

“There is really no such thing as an ‘independent woman.’ Independence is not a preference; it is usually a response. No human truly wants to do life alone. We become independent when we do not have dependable people around us,” Njoku wrote.

She urged people to reconsider labeling women as “overly self-sufficient,” noting that such traits often develop out of necessity. “Are you dependable? Because when someone shows up consistently, nobody chooses isolation,” she added.

Njoku concluded that a woman’s strength often reflects circumstance rather than choice: “Independence is learned in the absence of reliability. She is strong because she has to be. Be dependable, and watch her strength soften into trust.”

Mary Njoku is married to Jason Njoku, CEO of Iroko TV.