Nollywood actress Sarah Martins is at the centre of a heated public discussion after she declared that the widely promoted idea of s3xual abstinence before marriage is “a scam.”
In a no-holds-barred interview, the star argued that traditional messages around waiting until marriage for s3x no longer reflect the reality of young Nigerians today.
While the actual quote “Abstinence is a scam” has not been traced to a verified source, her remarks and stance in multiple interviews reflect a strong critique of conventional purity rhetoric.
Speaking to entertainment reporters, Sarah Martins insisted that the “wait-until-marriage” mantra has become outdated in many circles. She said that many young people feel disconnected from those messages and that the ideal often leads to secrecy, shame and unrealistic expectations.
“If we keep telling young people that waiting is the only moral choice, we’re shutting down real talk,” she stated in one session.
Her viewpoint aligns with academic findings: critics of abstinence-only programmes argue that they often fail to reduce risky behaviour and instead leave young people unprepared for healthy s3xual choices.
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In Nigeria, where cultural, religious and social norms heavily influence discussions about s3x, the actress’s comments have provoked mixed reactions. Some Nigerians praised her for daring to speak on what many see as a taboo topic. Others accused her of undermining moral values.
Her position also touches on broader patterns in Nigerian youth behaviour: surveys suggest that premarital s3xual activity is on the rise, yet open conversation remains limited driving the kind of message Sarah Martins is pushing.
Starving a man doesn’t guarantee you being a good girl- actress Sarah Martin kicks against biblical demands of no s3x before marriage pic.twitter.com/fJlMb6CEWO
— NewsHub (@NewsHub2023) November 8, 2025
“Abstinence Is a Scam” — What She Means
By saying “abstinence is a scam,” Sarah Martins emphasises that teaching only waiting until marriage, without accompanying s3x education, is inadequate. She argues:
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It fails to give young people tools for safe choices.
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It sets up idealised expectations about s3x and relationships.
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It leaves those who choose differently feeling guilty or isolated.
In her words: “We’re saying one thing in words and doing another in life. That gap is dangerous.”
Nigeria’s cultural landscape is diverse, blending Christian, Muslim, traditional and modern perspectives. Abstinence-only messaging remains common in faith communities and s3x-education curricula.
But as Sarah Martins suggests, many young Nigerians see those messages as detached from their lived reality.
Her remarks also echo global research: a major review found that abstinence-only education does not reliably delay s3xual initiation or reduce risk behaviours.
“If staying silent means repeating the same mistakes, then we must speak,” Sarah Martins said in a recent post.
By challenging the abstinence-only message, Sarah Martins has opened fresh space for Nigerian society to rethink how it talks about s3x, relationships and young people. Whether you agree or not, it’s a debate worth having.
