Reality TV star Tacha has criticised the widespread saying “na man dey do man,” insisting that men advance and empower one another far more than women.
In a post on X, she argued that men dominate leadership and funding opportunities across major sectors, including politics, business, entertainment, technology, oil and gas, finance, and the creative industry.
She maintained that these industries remain overwhelmingly male-controlled.
Tacha referenced her own career, noting that if she possessed the same influence and ideas but were a man, she would likely have achieved greater progress due to easier access and fewer barriers.
She added that women continue to face distinct expectations and structural challenges that make success more difficult.
Describing the popular phrase as misleading, she asserted that it ignores the reality of Nigeria’s deeply patriarchal environment, where men occupy 70 to 90 percent of key positions.
“That’s not opinion, that’s structure. Men fund men far more than they fund women, and even women often prefer doing business with men over other women. So abeg?? How did we arrive at the idea that men are somehow the most unsupported group?
If “na man dey do man” were true, industries wouldn’t look the way they do 2day. See lemme tell you, power doesn’t accidentally concentrate. It flows where systems allow it, and those systems heavily favour men. I’ll use myself as an example: I’ve always said this openly. If I were a man with the same influence, ideas, work ethic, and drive, I would be much further in life, not by cheating/shortcuts, just by sheer access.
“I’m constantly pitching ideas. Anyone who knows me knows this. If we talk consistently for a week, I’ve probably brought up a business idea already. I’m always thinking about scale, leverage, money, and growth. The reactions are usually the same: “Wow, you’re really smart.” “I didn’t know you think like this.” “This idea can actually make money.” They see the value. They understand the upside.
“But here’s where things diverge. With men, deals often end in handshakes. With women, deals often come with conditions. Somehow the conversation shifts from business to “let’s go on a date,”
“I’m at the Eko hotel for the weekend.”
“People say, ‘go to the club, that’s where deals are sealed, ‘ and yes, that works for men. A guy meets an exec, they drink, vibe, shake hands, deal done. For women, even in those same spaces, even when the idea makes perfect sense, there’s often an unspoken expectation attached. That’s a barrier men simply don’t face.
“So when people say men put women on more than men, it’s nonsense. Men put men on. The system puts men on. Women succeed despite the system, not because of it. That’s why I always tell women: work like crazy. Over-prepare. Over-deliver. Don’t rely on goodwill.
“Cause in this environment, competence alone is rarely enough, you have to prove it again and again. “Na man dey do man” is just pure nonsense. The reality is simple: power circulates among men, and women pay a much higher price to enter the room.”
