Reality TV star Tacha has criticised the popular saying “na man dey do man,” arguing that men support, promote, and empower one another far more than women do.
In a post on X, she stated that men dominate leadership positions and funding opportunities across key sectors such as politics, business, entertainment, technology, oil and gas, finance, and the creative industry, noting that these spaces remain largely male-controlled.
Tacha drew from her personal experience, saying that if she had the same ideas, influence, and drive but were a man, her progress would likely have been faster due to easier access and fewer systemic barriers. She added that women continue to face higher expectations and structural obstacles that limit their advancement.
Describing the phrase as misleading, she said it fails to reflect Nigeria’s deeply patriarchal structure, where men occupy between 70 and 90 percent of decision-making 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.”