Every now and then, a celebrity says something that refuses to disappear after a few hours on social media. Instead, it grows into a nationwide conversation because people see parts of their own lives reflected in it. That is exactly what happened when Falz suggested that people should ideally wait until they are in their 30s before getting married.
As expected, opinions started flying almost immediately. Some people praised him for encouraging maturity before making one of life's biggest commitments. Others insisted that love cannot be scheduled and that nobody should put an age limit on marriage. Reading through the countless reactions, however, I found myself thinking about something completely different.
I don't believe the real story is whether 30 is the perfect age to get married.
In fact, I don't think any number has the power to determine whether a marriage succeeds or fails.
The real conversation, at least for me, is about preparation.
That single word has quietly disappeared from many of the expectations society places on young people today. We celebrate speed more than readiness. We ask people when they are getting married long before we ask whether they are emotionally healthy. We congratulate someone for buying expensive things without asking whether they can actually afford them. Social media has convinced many people that looking successful is almost as important as becoming successful.
Perhaps that is why Falz's comments have resonated with so many Nigerians. Whether you agree with him or disagree completely, his opinion forces us to stop and ask ourselves a simple question: Am I preparing for the future I want, or am I simply trying to keep up with everyone else's timeline?
I have come to believe that this question matters far more than deciding whether marriage should happen at 25, 30, or even later.
Marriage is a beautiful institution, but it asks a lot from two people. It demands patience when life becomes difficult. It requires communication when misunderstandings arise. It calls for sacrifice, forgiveness, emotional maturity, and financial responsibility. None of these qualities magically appear because someone celebrates a particular birthday. They are developed over time through experience, intentional learning, and personal growth.
That is why I think our twenties should not only be about chasing milestones. They should also be about becoming the kind of people who can sustain those milestones when they finally arrive.
Unfortunately, one part of this discussion is often ignored.
Money.
Not because money is more important than love, but because financial stress has a way of exposing weaknesses that many relationships never prepared for. Building financial stability before marriage is not about becoming wealthy overnight or delaying happiness until you have millions in your account. It is about developing valuable skills, learning how to manage money wisely, and creating opportunities that give you confidence about tomorrow instead of fear.
Thankfully, this generation has opportunities that many of our parents could never have imagined.
Today, a smartphone is no longer just a communication device. It is a business tool, a creative studio, a classroom, and, for many people, a source of income. Every day, ordinary people are using their phones to build online businesses, create digital products, offer freelance services, grow audiences on social media, and earn income from opportunities that simply did not exist a decade ago.
As I reflected on Falz's comments, another thought crossed my mind. What if more young Nigerians spent less time worrying about when they should get married and more time building skills that would make every stage of life easier?
Imagine entering your thirties with multiple sources of income instead of multiple financial worries.
Imagine having a talent that pays you consistently.
Imagine creating something today that continues generating income tomorrow.
Those possibilities are becoming increasingly realistic because technology has lowered the barriers to entry for creative people.
One example that genuinely excites me is music creation. Nigerian music continues to dominate playlists around the world, proving that creativity can open doors that once seemed impossible. Yet countless talented people never take the first step because they assume success begins with an expensive recording studio or costly production equipment.
That assumption is becoming less true every year.
With the Music Creation service on Auxi Sherpa, aspiring artists can begin writing songs, creating original lyrics, producing quality beats, experimenting with different sounds, and developing music that has the potential to become the next viral trend, all from the smartphone already in their pocket. Whether your dream is to create Afrobeats, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Highlife, Amapiano, or another genre entirely, every successful musician begins with an idea before they ever begin with fame.
That, interestingly, is another lesson hidden inside this conversation.
Preparation almost always comes before recognition.
The world usually notices the finished product, but it rarely sees the countless hours of learning, practising, failing, improving, and starting again. The same principle applies whether we're talking about marriage, business, music, or personal growth. The people who appear "lucky" are often the ones who quietly prepared long before anyone was watching.
Perhaps that is why I refuse to reduce Falz's comments to a debate about age alone. For me, they are a reminder that there is nothing wrong with taking time to build yourself before trying to build a life with someone else. There is nothing wrong with learning a profitable skill before chasing social approval. There is nothing wrong with choosing preparation over pressure.
If there is one thing I hope readers take away from this conversation, it is that life is not a competition against someone else's calendar. The better question isn't, "When should I get married?" It is, "What am I doing today that will make my future stronger?" The answer to that question may involve learning a digital skill, creating music, launching an online business, selling digital products, freelancing, or discovering another opportunity that allows your smartphone to become more than a device for scrolling through social media.
The future belongs to people who prepare for it.
And whether you eventually marry in your twenties, your thirties, or even later, I believe preparation will always matter more than rushing to satisfy expectations that were never truly yours.
If you have an article, opinion piece, or news story you'd like published on Global News Arena, or you're ready to begin your journey toward building a profitable digital business from your phone, including creating your own songs, writing lyrics, producing amazing beats, and making music with the Music Creation service on Auxi Sherpa, I would love to hear from you.
Send me an email
Read more at Global News Arena
