Veteran Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has criticised what she described as an entitlement mentality in Nigerian society, lamenting that begging has become increasingly common.
Speaking on a recent episode of Activating Success With Love Idoko, the actress said she did not support or encourage begging except in life-threatening situations.
According to Omotola, people should seek legitimate means of earning a living, insisting that there was no reason anyone should be unwilling to work.
She said, “A lot of Nigerians take opportunities for granted. And one thing we have to understand is that nobody owes you anything. Nigerians now have a culture of begging.
“I don’t support or encourage begging. I believe that there is no reason why anybody can’t work. There is something you can do. There is a kind of value you can bring to humanity.
“Everybody has needs, including me. There are some needs I have that if I was entitled I would go and beg certain people.
“So, don’t feel like because you don’t have money like me, you are the only one who has a reason to beg. At every level, we all have needs. But we are all struggling through it. Even if you have to beg, it should be a life-and-death situation.”
Omotola added, “Try as much as you can not to beg and be a nuisance. Begging reduces your own self-worth. If you must beg, let it be in a desperate situation. And don’t do it with entitlement.”
