“Egusi Today, Pizza Tomorrow” — Seyi Awolowo Sparks Debate With Candid Take on Monogamy

Former Big Brother Naija star and media personality, Seyi Awolowo, is once again trending online, but not for any television drama or political lineage. Instead, he has sent social media into a frenzy with his candid, metaphor-laden comment on the challenges of monogamy. In a statement that has sparked wide-ranging debates and eye-rolls alike, Seyi said: “It is difficult to concentrate on one woman. Today you see egusi, tomorrow you see efo riro, after you see pizza.”

Delivered with his signature charm and a half-smile, the comment was made during an unscripted appearance on a podcast where the conversation had veered toward love, loyalty, and the modern dynamics of relationships. What began as light-hearted banter quickly turned into a viral soundbite, splitting opinions across gender lines and even prompting public figures and influencers to weigh in.

While some interpreted the analogy as humorous and relatable, others found it to be a blatant glorification of infidelity, cleverly dressed in food metaphors. The backlash was swift. Twitter exploded with commentary, with hashtags like #EgusiAndPizza, #SeyiSaidWhatHeSaid, and #FocusOnOneWoman trending within hours.

“You don’t need to disrespect women to be funny,” tweeted one user. “Comparing women to dishes you crave just highlights how objectified we still are in the minds of many men.” Another added, “Seyi is saying what a lot of Nigerian men think but won’t say. That doesn’t make it right, but it does make it real.”

The metaphor — comparing women to various types of food — seemed to reflect a wider generational struggle with commitment. For some men, Seyi’s words spoke directly to their experience of romantic indecision and temptation in a world overflowing with visual stimulation, instant gratification, and dating apps offering “efo riro” and “pizza” at the swipe of a screen.

Seyi, who has long been seen as a charming ladies’ man and a bit of a philosopher on relationships, didn't seem fazed by the backlash. In follow-up interviews, he maintained that his words were not intended to degrade women, but rather to capture the honest inner turmoil that some men face in staying faithful. “It was a joke, but also a reflection of how hard it can be sometimes,” he explained. “We’re constantly surrounded by beauty and choice. It doesn’t mean we don’t value our women, but let’s not pretend it’s always easy.”

But critics weren’t buying the “honesty” defense. “It’s always easier for men to defend their lack of discipline as ‘natural’ or ‘honest’ while women are expected to be paragons of virtue,” one Facebook comment read. “Let a woman say she finds it hard to concentrate on one man because she sees jollof today and pepper soup tomorrow — the same society will crucify her.”

Others accused Seyi of using his platform irresponsibly. As the grandson of the late statesman Obafemi Awolowo, some critics argue that Seyi ought to carry himself with a different level of decorum, given the political and cultural weight of his surname. “Your grandfather was focused on building a nation. You can’t even focus on one woman,” one post quipped sarcastically.

Despite the online storm, Seyi's comment has reignited conversations about what faithfulness means in contemporary relationships — particularly among young Nigerians navigating love in an age of endless options. While the metaphor may have sounded unserious, the reality it points to is deeply entrenched: emotional maturity, discipline, and loyalty are becoming more contested virtues.

Psychologists and relationship experts have also joined the conversation. One Lagos-based therapist noted, “What Seyi said, though poorly worded, isn’t unusual. Many people do struggle with monogamy. But normalizing it as a kind of inevitability rather than something to work on is where the danger lies.” She added, “When we joke about these things without context or accountability, we give permission to emotional laziness.”

On TikTok, the phrase “Egusi today, pizza tomorrow” has become the latest background audio for skits — with users acting out humorous scenes of people getting distracted from their partners by more “delicious” options walking by. Even brands have jumped on the trend, with a local food delivery company tweeting: “We serve all kinds, just like Seyi's love life. Egusi, Efo, and Pizza delivered in 30 minutes or less!”

In the sea of laughter, backlash, and analysis, one thing remains clear — Seyi Awolowo has struck a nerve. Whether you see his remark as a cheeky truth, an excuse for bad behavior, or a cautionary tale about public figures oversharing, the conversation isn’t dying down anytime soon. In fact, it's deepened the spotlight on how society views gender, desire, and commitment in the social media age.

For some, Seyi’s comments were a reflection of a man who is refreshingly honest about his flaws. For others, they are proof of how far society still has to go in promoting respectful and balanced views of love and partnership.

As one viral tweet summarized it, “The problem isn’t that egusi and pizza exist. The problem is you made a promise to eat only one and can’t keep your spoon in the same bowl.”

Whether Seyi walks back his comment, or doubles down with a sequel food analogy, remains to be seen. For now, he has given the internet another catchphrase, and perhaps inadvertently reminded us all that discipline — not desire — is what sustains real love.