Veteran Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has rejected claims that love and marriage have become “modern-day scams”, insisting that both remain meaningful when built on honesty and genuine affection.
Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, the actor said relationships are only undermined when individuals enter them with hidden intentions rather than sincere commitment.
According to Ike, love is one of life’s greatest experiences and should serve as the foundation of every healthy relationship. However, he noted that some people approach relationships as a means of financial gain, which distorts their true purpose.
“Love and marriage is not a scam, but there are people who are hungry and using relationships as a meal ticket. That’s where it becomes a scam,” he said.
The 59-year-old described finding someone who genuinely cares for you as a rare and rewarding experience, adding that problems begin when one partner conceals their real motives.
“When you’re liking him from an end he is not aware of, that’s the scam. When you’re liking her from the back end and she doesn’t know, that’s the scam,” he explained.
He further alleged that some women enter relationships primarily for material benefits rather than genuine affection.
“Plenty girls are going into relationships because of what they want to get, what they want to collect from the man,” Ike said.
Emphasising the importance of trust and sincerity, the actor maintained that relationships should be treated as sacred, with love serving as the cornerstone of lasting unions.
Ike married his South African wife, Yolanda Pfeiffer, in 2017. The couple welcomed their first daughter in 2019 and had another daughter in Germany in 2024.
Before marrying Pfeiffer, the actor was married to Suzanne Emma. Their marriage ended in divorce after producing four children.
