₦airaland Forum

Yes, you heard me right. As a man, you should be able to cook your own food—soups, stews, rice, yam porridge, snacks, even baking if you feel adventurous. Cooking is a basic survival skill, not a gender-specific responsibility. This idea that men aren’t supposed to cook because it’s “a woman’s job” is outdated and honestly, harmful.

Let me be clear—I’m not saying you should take over the cooking duty in your home if you're married. What I’m saying is simple: as a man, you should be able to cook for yourself, at the same level as your wife, or close. You should be able to take care of your food and nutrition if she’s not around, or even when you’re single, or living alone. What if you travel for work? What if you’re posted to a new town? Must you rely on noodles or buka food for survival?

It baffles me when I see educated men—some with Master’s degrees—who still can't boil rice properly. I personally consider any man who can't cook as partially illiterate. Why? Because it shows you can’t follow simple instructions or recipes to produce a decent meal.

We are in 2025, not 1985. Anything you want to learn is just a click away. YouTube, cooking blogs, Instagram reels—everything is available. You don’t need to call your mum to ask how to make egusi soup anymore.

Let me share my story. I used to rely completely on my wife for meals. Whatever she cooked was what I ate, whether I liked it or not. Over time, I gained unhealthy weight, became sluggish, and was always feeling bloated. I knew something had to change. I started learning to cook—not just anything, but food that worked for my body, my health, and my preferences. Now, my wife literally begs to eat from my food. And don’t get me wrong—she’s a great cook. But I simply became more intentional with what I prepared.

Now I control my meals, my portions, my ingredients. I experiment with both local and foreign dishes, and I eat exactly what I want, when I want it. That's true freedom. Cooking gave me back control over my health and my life.

Here are a few added advantages of learning to cook as a man:

You save money – Instead of eating out daily or depending on expensive food vendors, you can prepare meals in bulk and reduce expenses.

You’ll eat healthier , You control the oil, salt, and ingredients. You’re not at the mercy of unhealthy food.

You become more attractive – A man who can cook is instantly more appealing. Ask around.

You're prepared for life’s realities, If you're single, divorced, widowed, or even just living apart from your family for work, cooking becomes your lifeline.

You build confidence, There’s something deeply satisfying about making a tasty meal from scratch and watching others enjoy it.

So dear brothers, this isn’t a feminist campaign or a call for you to abandon traditional roles. This is simply a wake-up call. Learn to cook. Own your kitchen. Your health, your wallet, and even your future self will thank you.

Wen man knows how to cook it spice relationship, and him com sabi knack jon women go faint and wake up on his beddie

Wife is seriously trying to discourage me from cooking since I started making food and kids prefer my meals. previously, we used to quarrel with cooking what I want and when I want it. Now, I have the control and feel truly liberated as I can make whatever I want more than most women.

Knacking experience is overrated as well.

There’s nothing more attractive than a man who knows his way around a kitchen! To just sit there with your favourite 🍹, and just watch him at work is an aphrodisiac of the highest order 😍

Only cook when no woman is around or available, if not, dem go turn you to slave with their feminine tactics.

MMempire:
Only cook when no woman is around or available, if not, dem go turn you to slave with their feminine tactics.

Your role models must be ter'rible.

What a warped mentality in this age and time.

MMempire:
Only cook when no woman is around or available, if not, dem go turn you to slave with their feminine tactics.

No, let them know you can do better and do not necessarily need her food, that she is not doing you a great favor by cooking. Once in a while, take over the kitchen with a unique recipe.

descarado:
Your role models must be ter'rible.

What a warped mentality in this age and time.

I tire. I even cook for my teenage daughter who always beg to cook for me. I am very picky when It comes to food and I will never tolerate slight mistake in my food. My mom was always tensed up until I had tasted the food despite the fact we were seven in the family. I would opt to starve than eat a bad food so the motivations to make my own meals.

I have days I ask everyone to relax while I cook, sweep and clean the whole house.

So let's say I agree with you

"Cooking isn't gender specific, it's a survival skill"


Why's women not seeing PROVISION AND HAVING MONEY in such way?


Me i cook for myself
But once any lady is around
I don't even stress myself goin into the kitchen


Cause I won't stress u to funds the cooking lol

Since I started cooking I stopped having quarrel with my wife over late food.

I can now cook my favorite meal with variety of taste.

I regard any man who sees cooking as a gender role an î....d.....î.....ò.....t.


I started cooking at the age of 10, likewise my brothers. No woman, I repeat NO WOMAN can do shakara for me when it comes to cooking. My mum and elder sister are caterers so I learnt from both of them.

Last year when my mum was preparing to celebrate her birthday some of her church members volunteered to do the cooking but she told them not to bother that her son (me) can handle it. She told me she saw the shock on their faces, they all marveled after they ate my food. My daughter celebrated her 1st birthday recently and I did the cooking, I just enjoy cooking. If I ain't with my screwdriver the next tool you see me with is a spoon.

Girls threw themselves at me back then in the hostel because of my cooking skills, na discipline make me fit dodge many bullets...... The jealous ones felt intimidated, but I don't care.

The only disadvantage ( I don't know if that's the right word to use) about me knowing how to cook is that I hardly enjoy someone else's food, not even food from eateries. I most times see something to complain about.....My wife perfected her cooking skills in my family/my house.

There's this new KFC branch that opened shop. I say make I check em out. I was so disappointed with the rice and chicken. I cook better than this! In the philosophy of let thy food be medicine, I knew the food was empty without herbs. Una dey try.

galantjoe:
Since I started cooking I stopped having quarrel with my wife over late food.

I can now cook my favorite meal with variety of taste.

How could you delegate such important role to an untrained? Food should be an exclusive list to you. Non negotiable. A matter of national security unless you married a seasoned chef. Downside is that they make the best meals but can't enjoy the moment with you. Good food with classical music riots the blood.

Nnamdipapa:
I tire. I even cook for my teenage daughter who always beg to cook for me. I am very picky when It comes to food and I will never tolerate slight mistake in my food. My mom was always tensed up until I had tasted the food despite the fact we were seven in the family. I would opt to starve than eat a bad food so the motivations to make my own meals.

I have days I ask everyone to relax while I cook, sweep and clean the whole house.

It's fun and therapeutic. Only show this aspect to a coequal.

Bahamas95:
I regard any man who sees cooking as a gender role an î....d.....î.....ò.....t.


I started cooking at the age of 10, likewise my brothers. No woman, I repeat NO WOMAN can do shakara for me when it comes to cooking. My mum and elder sister are caterers so I learnt from both of them.

Last year when my mum was preparing to celebrate her birthday some of her church members volunteered to do the cooking but she told them not to bother that her son (me) can handle it. She told me she saw the shock on their faces, they all marveled after they ate my food. My daughter celebrated her 1st birthday recently and I did the cooking, I just enjoy cooking. If I ain't with my screwdriver the next tool you see me with is a spoon.

Girls threw themselves at me back then in the hostel because of my cooking skills, na discipline make me fit dodge many bullets...... The jealous ones felt intimidated, but I don't care.

The only disadvantage ( I don't know if that's the right word to use) about me knowing how to cook is that I hardly enjoy someone else's food, not even food from eateries. I most times see something to complain about.....My wife perfected her cooking skills in my family/my house.

Me too, I don't eat other people's food

Bahamas95:
I regard any man who sees cooking as a gender role an î....d.....î.....ò.....t.

Idiot is a strong word, but I find it weird some men reason that way. I can understand the gender role part because one person would (might?) do certain things more in a family setting, but not knowing how to do it at all is scary. And before they will come here to say women should learn to work __I am also worried about adult women who cannot fend for themselves. How do these set of people sleep at night? 😂😂

pocohantas:
Idiot is a strong word, but I find it weird some men reason that way. I can understand the gender role part because one person would (might?) do certain things more in a family setting, but not knowing how to do it at all is scary. And before they will come here to say women should learn to work __I am also worried about adult women who cannot fend for themselves. How do these set of people sleep at night? 😂😂

I think our culture is responsible for the mentalities of men not needing to know how to cook and emphasizing that as the role is for women. Over time, I have vome to the conclusion that people who cannot cook are either lazy or illiterates.

I remember one time my mom had to travel to the village and my dad had to cook for us. I threw out the food.

Nnamdipapa:
I think our culture is responsible for the mentalities of men not needing to know how to cook and emphasizing that as the role is for women. Over time, I have come to the conclusion that people who cannot cook are either lazy or illiterates.

Yea, sometimes it is an upbringing problem.
But as you grow, you should be able to advise yourself. If you come to my house, your guest-privilege expires after 3 days. Except you are an elderly or minor (U15), better be ready to fix your food (especially breakfast)and clean after yourself. Else you go chop biscuit and coke tire. 💀💀💀💀

Nnamdipapa:
I remember one time my mom had to travel to the village and my dad had to cook for us. I threw out the food.

You were that difficult, problematic child, no doubt.

Wife is seriously trying to discourage me from cooking since I started making food and kids prefer my meals.

So, how often do you cook for your kids?

I can hardly stand a man who drags space with his woman, by the way.
It's okay if she allows you once in a while though.

In my opinion, it is good for a man to know how to cook as a necessity, not to compete with his wife for the affection of the children.
A woman feeding her children is fulfilling, and one of her super powers.
Stay out of your wife's space!

Well, except she allows you.

pocohantas:
Yea, sometimes it is an upbringing problem.
But as you grow, you should be able to advise yourself. If you come to my house, your guest-privilege expires after 3 days. Except you are an elderly or minor (U15), better be ready to fix your food (especially breakfast)and clean after yourself. Else you go chop biscuit and coke tire. 💀💀💀💀

Some people are so lazy they can chop biscuits and coke for one month.

pocohantas:
Idiot is a strong word, but I find it weird some men reason that way. I can understand the gender role part because one person would (might?) do certain things more in a family setting, but not knowing how to do it at all is scary. And before they will come here to say women should learn to work __I am also worried about adult women who cannot fend for themselves. How do these set of people sleep at night? 😂😂

I used that strong word because some men deserve to be called that.

There was a guy in my hostel who would gather his clothes from monday to friday and travel home every weekend to give them to his younger sisters to wash. Outta curiosity me and my friend asked him why he was always doing that, he replied. "Abeg I nor fit dey do woman work" Can you imagine the nonsense.

It was later we knew he can't even cook to save his life, he was always buying food or junks. At times a girl next door would assist him with the cooking.

There was a day we wanted to play ball and we were told he took the ball to his room after we finished playing the previous day and I went to collect it.

Immediately he opened his door I almost puked, the odour that greeted me was terrible. So tell me why I won't use that strong word for someone like him?

I don't know if he's married now, any woman who mistakenly marries that guy would see hell. His laziness when it comes to house chores is legendary.

Mariangeles:
You were that difficult, problematic child, no doubt.




So, how often do you cook for your kids?

I can stand a man who drags space with his woman, by the way.
It's okay if she allows you once in a while though.

In my opinion, it is good for a man to know how to cook as a necessity, and not to compete with his wife for the affection of the children.
A woman feeding her children is fulfilling, and one of her super powers.
Stay out of your wife's space!

Well, except she allows you.

I am problematic when it comes to food as I want a certain taste all the time.

Either I cook or the kids cook, wife dies nit like to cook 90% of the time. I was tired of fighting over cooking with three freezers and a big fridge filled with foodstuffs so, I took interest and decided to go into cooking.

Mariangeles:
You were that difficult, problematic child, no doubt.




So, how often do you cook for your kids?

I can stand a man who drags space with his woman, by the way.
It's okay if she allows you once in a while though.

In my opinion, it is good for a man to know how to cook as a necessity, and not to compete with his wife for the affection of the children.
A woman feeding her children is fulfilling, and one of her super powers.
Stay out of your wife's space!

Well, except she allows you.

Everyone cooks, my daughter and sons. Woke up at 3am on night with the gas on, I went downstairs to find my older son cooking a full meal, he claimed he woke up hungry.

Nnamdipapa:
I am problematic when it comes to food as I want a certain taste all the time.

Either I cook or the kids cook, wife dies nit like to cook 90% of the time. I was tired of fighting over cooking with three freezers and a big fridge filled with foodstuffs so, I took interest and decided to go into cooking.

So, how come she discourages you from cooking when she herself does not like to cook?

Mariangeles:
So, how come she discourages you from cooking when she herself does not like to cook?

That is when the 10% kicks in and she feels guilty but then, I have moved on. Work at home at my own office so have all the time.

Nnamdipapa:
I think our culture is responsible for the mentalities of men not needing to know how to cook and emphasizing that as the role is for women. Over time, I have vome to the conclusion that people who cannot cook are either lazy or illiterates.

I guess you don't know how to swim, perform CPR, start a fire without matchsticks, build an emergency shelter, navigate when you're lost without using your phone or a compass.

Which means I can also call you a stark illiterate because these are all survival skills

WhiteIverson:
I guess you don't know how to swim, perform CPR, start a fire without matchsticks, build an emergency shelter, navigate when you're lost without using your phone or a compass.

Which means I can also call you a stark illiterate because these are all survival skills

I can swim, perform CPR, make fire without a match stick, Navigate without. Bro, I grew in the era without a phone and internet and was in the boy scout as a young lad.

If someone can’t cook even a simple meal, it’s not because they lack physical ability like in swimming — it’s because they’re not paying attention or they’re refusing to learn something that’s written in plain language. That’s why it can be called a form of illiteracy , not in reading alone, but in life skills.

Swimming takes body coordination, balance, and practice. Cooking just takes the ability to read and follow instructions. So, if you can read and still can't make jollof rice or boil yam and eggs, it’s not a skill issue , it’s a mindset issue. That’s why I say if you can’t cook at all, you might as well be life-illiterate.

Mariangeles:
So, how come she discourages you from cooking when she herself does not like to cook?

Aslo, food is a way to exert control over others, the control is gone when I could make my own food.

dhiqson:
So let's say I agree with you

"Cooking isn't gender specific, it's a survival skill"


Why's women not seeing PROVISION AND HAVING MONEY in such way?


Me i cook for myself
But once any lady is around
I don't even stress myself goin into the kitchen


Cause I won't stress u to funds the cooking lol

Do you get? A nice article but he nearly ruined it with that part.

Nearly everything men did in 1985, they’re still doing today, but you don’t see anybody telling them to stop because it’s 2025. Look at marriages, even after divorce, the core things a man provides in marriage, he can still be mandated by court to keep providing for the woman and kids. But nothing binds the woman to do anything for him. It’s crazy.

In my family, everybody cooks. And being the one who stayed in the village longer, I cook local foods better than all of them. Recently, we were in the village for Easter, and I was the one cooking. My brothers were there, their wives too, and my sister, my mother, and others, I was cooking because I love cooking and I trust my own food. But all this talk about 2025 doesn’t move me. Yes, it’s 2025, I can order any food from my phone; heck, I can order both the food and the chef.

Nobody remembers it’s 2025 when we tell men to be the providers and do all the heavy lifting. Recently, because a woman died over ₦500k, the internet was full of “don’t settle for less” and “marry a man that can always cough out a million.” This is coming from a POS attendant that earns ₦15k monthly without any allowance.

Recently in a conversation with one, she said she can't marry a broke guy because she doesn't want to suffer; and I asked why she would suffer because of his brokenness when he isn’t asking for her own money?

Women have all the opportunities that men have, they have the education men had, they can get all the skills men have access to, and for some good reason, it’s even easier for them. But nobody reminds them it's 2025 when they hold back their own money and expect everything to come from the man. Nobody tells them it's 2025 when they're planning their dream weddings without contributing a single kobo.

Na man dey do man las las, NEPO kids dey buy off the whole food in the canteen because they no wan queue while LAPO kids are being told to start cooking because it's 2025. Na money and fellow man dey do man.

I dey live in one beedrom, I marry woman put inside, she no add extra room, na me dey pay the bills but na she settle for less.

Chineke kpọkwa ha ọkụ

Simple, not being able to take care of yourself without external help should be a crime in this age.