Nigerian actor Jim Iyke has reignited a heated debate with his recent remarks concerning the upbringing of boys by single mothers.

What Did Jim Iyke Say?

In an interview on Okay 101.7 FM in Accra, Ghana, Iyke asserted that a single mother cannot raise a boy into a “proper man”, emphasizing the necessity of male influence. He stated:

“A woman can’t raise a man. You can’t, you’re not built for it. A single mother cannot raise a man properly. You need a male influence – your brother, father, or even any trusted man. There has to be a male presence in it.”
The Nation Newspaper

He further elaborated that without such guidance, boys risk becoming “weak men”—a reflection of the men who abandoned their mothers. According to Iyke, only a strong male presence can instill the needed discipline and resilience.

The Fallout: Support, Backlash, and Debate

• Some agree with the sentiment that male role models are crucial in shaping boys into men—especially when it comes to discipline and identity formation.
• Others strongly disagree, pointing to numerous successful figures—like Barack Obama, Jay-Z, and LeBron James—who were raised predominantly by single mothers and have thrived. One critic remarked: “There are a lot of men raised by single mothers doing great. I have seen many.”
  

Similarly, amid the online debate, another commentator challenged the generalization, saying:

“This fool opens his mouth and only nonsense spews out!!”
Stella Dimoko Korkus

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