I’m not under pressure to marry –Funmi Awelewa

Actress, Funmi Awelewa, has said she is not under any pressure to marry, saying she has rather channeled her energy into building an enduring brand.

In an interview with Sunday Scoop, she said, “There is no pressure to get married. My mother has many grandchildren. Why do I need to rush myself? I think everyone should only ask for grace and peace of mind. When one has money, one would be happy.

And when one is happy, one would have peace of mind. Some people are in wrong marriages because they wanted to satisfy their parents. I cannot satisfy my parent and get into the wrong hands. I told myself I was not interested in an intimate relationship in 2020 and I didn’t want to give any man a chance. 

It is amazing that I did just that. I had a lot of suitors but I didn’t want to be distracted. I wanted to put all my energy into my acting and business. I wanted to bounce back from my previous woes and I was determined to prove naysayers wrong. In my low moments, I heard a lot of spiteful comments but the way to prove them wrong is to keep moving ahead and stay focused.

“I have realised that it is better for people to tag you as being proud than for them to know everything about you. I respect my senior colleagues and I have been a good girl so far. I do not chase clout, compete or do things for attention. I don’t want to be in the news all the time. The most important thing is my peace of mind. I try not to always please people. If one tries to attach oneself to people too much, one would lose respect. It is normal to have a competitive spirit but I don’t push things and I’m not in a hurry to do things.”

The actress also noted that some people were enduring abusive marriages because of financial gains. She added, “Some women are enduring abusive marriages because they are not financially stable. Why would you stay in an abusive marriage when you can leave? But, because they are financially incapacitated, they endure it sometimes for their children’s sake? I am convinced that money is important because it would give one respect. If one does not have money, one’s talent and creativity would go to waste. Some rich people only patronise people that are rich.

“I believe that money is important but it does not guarantee happiness. I believe there are some uncomfortable things that one would experience if one does not have money. People would not respect one and sometimes, one may be ridiculed and silenced when one wants to talk. Without money, nothing can be achieved. One cannot lack money and be genuinely happy. When one has money, some people would assure one that they have one’s back, but if anything happens, they would abscond. The only way to help oneself and the people that matter to one is to be consistent.”