The Olodo Uprising: A Society at War with Excellence

Almost every week, a new topic dominates conversations in Nigerian media. One week it is politics or security issues; another week it is entertainment. Before long, a new social media trend takes over. This time, it is the "Olodo Uprising." Like many trends before it, some may dismiss it as just another fleeting moment. I believe it reveals a deeper issue regarding the kind of society we are becoming.

Though the term has only recently gained popularity, the culture it describes has existed for years. To me, the Olodo Uprisingsymbolises anti-intellectualism. It marks the gradual decline of excellence, intellectual contributions, and merit, as average performance and mediocrity are increasingly celebrated. This reflects a culture where popularity is more valued than competence, visibility replaces substance, and entertainment overshadows intellect.

To clarify, this is not an attack on those without formal education. Some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs never finished university. Notable examples include Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, and Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola. The issue is not about education versus no education; it is about a society that increasingly celebrates ignorance while neglecting knowledge, critical thinking, and real contributions to development. Even before this term became popular, Nigeria was already starting to recognise individuals who gained fame through silly or shallow displays rather than through exceptional ideas or accomplishments.

Social media has sped up this shift. Algorithms reward engagement, not substance. The louder and more outrageous the content, the wider its reach. As a result, those who contribute little to intellectual discussions often gain large followings, while creators of educational and thought-provoking content struggle to get noticed. Somewhere along the way, we stopped caring about meaningful contributions and became more interested in who was trending. In a society where attention has turned into currency, popularity seems more valuable than usefulness.

Young Nigerians are influenced by what society chooses to reward. When visibility becomes the measure of success, many begin to believe that excellence, education, and competence are optional. The rise of shallow public figures has gradually changed what many young people aspire to achieve. If society continues to reward fame without substance, why would young people not think it is the right path?

The consequences are increasingly evident in our education system. There was a time when academic excellence was a top aspiration. People worked hard, built careers, and earned respect through merit. Those days are gone. Now, society often cheers internet fraudsters and shallow influencers instead of recognising those whose achievements contribute to national growth. What a decline.

Sadly, our educational institutions have not improved the situation. Some schools now prefer that students pass exams through cheating rather than earn their marks honestly. In some universities, students get through school by bribing lecturers and manipulating results. They graduate with certificates and degrees they did not truly earn. This explains why we sometimes find graduates, even those with first-class degrees, struggling to think critically, analyse issues, solve problems, or take part in meaningful discussions. It is even more alarming when some graduates cannot write clear essays or reports, use correct grammar, or make sound decisions without relying on AI. We are slowly raising a generation that depends on artificial intelligence while neglecting the natural intelligence that should be honed through learning and critical thinking. The systems designed to develop them have often favoured shortcuts over competence, resulting in what many call "half-baked graduates."

However, the responsibility does not fall solely on schools. Leadership has also played a role in this cultural change through misplaced priorities. It often pays to promote shows and events that entertain without educating, while initiatives that encourage learning and intellectual growth receive little attention. There was a time when programs like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Cowbellpedia, Olympiads, essay competitions, spelling bees, scholarship schemes, and other academic contests made knowledge appealing and rewarded intelligence. Today, the same society that once celebrated educational content focuses more on controversy, sensationalism, and spectacle, while shows that thrive on drama and nudity, like Big Brother Naija, dominate public attention.

Corporate organisations have also fuelled this trend. Many reputable brands now choose internet personalities as ambassadors simply because they draw attention online, while graduates, innovators, researchers, and professionals with exceptional records go overlooked. The message is clear: popularity matters more than competence. Rising unemployment has made things worse. A notable example was the TikToker Peller, who gathered graduates, including those with master's degrees, for a photography job, only to film them chasing cloutand ridicule them online. While many viewed it as entertainment, it highlighted how easily society mocks education instead of questioning the conditions that leave many qualified young people jobless. Instead of addressing the reasons behind graduate unemployment, we turned their frustration into content for public entertainment.

The Olodo Uprising is, therefore, more than just a social media trend. It reflects the values that Nigeria is adopting. The issue has never been about education versus no education; it is about excellence versus mediocrity, competence versus ignorance, and substance versus empty popularity. Every society ultimately becomes what it consistently celebrates. If we continue to value noise over knowledge, popularity over competence, and mediocrity over excellence, we should not be surprised when excellence becomes scarce. Perhaps the real question now is not whether the Olodo Culture exists. The real question is whether Nigeria is willing to restore the importance of merit, knowledge, and excellence before another generation grows up believing that popularity is more valuable than competence, ignorance more profitable than knowledge, and mediocrity more rewarding than excellence.