“No One Truly Wants to Walk Alone”: Mary Remmy Njoku Sparks Debate on Independence
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mary Remmy Njoku has ignited fresh conversations online after sharing her thoughts on the widely celebrated idea of the “independent woman,” describing the concept as often misunderstood.
In a post shared on her Instagram page on Tuesday morning, Mary Remmy Njoku argued that there is no such thing as a truly independent woman, stressing that human beings are not wired to live or thrive alone. According to her, the desire for support, partnership, and companionship is deeply rooted in human nature.
She further explained that many women do not become independent by deliberate choice, but rather as a response to life’s circumstances. In her view, independence often emerges when women are left with no reliable, supportive, or dependable people to lean on, forcing them to take on responsibilities single-handedly.
Mary’s reflection suggests that independence, for many women, is less about ideology and more about survival—an adaptation to situations where support systems are absent or unreliable.
Her post has since generated widespread reactions on social media, with users offering mixed opinions. While some applauded her honesty and agreed that independence is often born out of necessity, others maintained that independence can also be a conscious and empowering choice.
Opinion: Independence as Strength, Not a First Choice
Mary Remmy Njoku’s perspective touches on a sensitive but realistic truth: many people are independent not because they want to be, but because they have to be. In celebrating independence, society sometimes forgets to ask what conditions created it in the first place.
Her message does not diminish the strength of independent women; rather, it humanizes them. It reminds us that behind the “strong woman” label are individuals who may have stepped up simply because no one else did. Strength, in this sense, becomes a response to absence, not arrogance.
At the same time, the conversation opens room for balance. Independence and partnership do not have to be opposites. A woman can be capable and self-sufficient while still desiring support, love, and shared responsibility.
Ultimately, Mary Remmy Njoku’s post invites society to rethink independence—not as emotional isolation, but as resilience shaped by circumstance. And perhaps, it encourages us to build better support systems so independence becomes a choice, not a necessity.
