The growing debate surrounding the so-called "Olodo uprising" involving Nigerian content creator Peller should not simply be reduced to one individual or one viral trend. Rather than asking who should be blamed, perhaps the more important question is: What kind of society have we created, and what values are we rewarding?
For years, social media has increasingly celebrated content that promotes controversy, ignorance, indecency, and other behaviours that would hardly be applauded in many developed societies. At the same time, educational excellence, vocational skills, innovation, craftsmanship, and professional accomplishments receive far less attention and recognition.
In countries such as the United Kingdom, vocational professions are highly respected. It is common to find families proudly continuing generations of skilled trades such as carpentry, roofing, plumbing, engineering, and other crafts. These professions are not viewed as inferior but as valuable contributions to national development.
Across Asia, countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore, and others transformed themselves into global economic powers by investing heavily in education, technical skills, innovation, discipline, and productivity.
Likewise, the United States and many other advanced economies have built strong communities of professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, creators, and technocrats who use both traditional and digital media to promote knowledge, showcase expertise, build industries, and strengthen their national image.
Unfortunately, in Nigeria and many African countries, a different trend appears to dominate much of the online space. While there are many brilliant professionals, academics, skilled artisans, and innovators, their voices often struggle to compete with content that promotes nudity, internet fraud, examination malpractice, dishonesty, lawlessness, and other forms of social irresponsibility. Such content frequently attracts more attention, more engagement, and sometimes greater financial rewards than educational or developmental content.
The consequence is not difficult to understand. Young people naturally imitate what society celebrates. When ignorance is rewarded, ignorance becomes fashionable. When dishonesty is glorified, integrity begins to lose its value. When social media consistently amplifies destructive behaviour, it gradually shapes the attitudes and aspirations of a generation.
As the saying goes, you become what you repeatedly consume. What a society constantly feeds its people—especially its youth—through television, music, films, and social media eventually influences its culture, behaviour, and national character. A nation cannot continually glorify mediocrity while expecting excellence to become the norm.
Viewed from this perspective, the "Olodo uprising" should not come as a surprise. It is a symptom of deeper societal issues rather than an isolated event. In the same way, societies that continually tolerate violence, intolerance, and hatred often produce generations that normalise those behaviours. South Africa's recurring xenophobic attacks remind us how harmful social attitudes, when left unchecked, can become deeply rooted over time.
This is not a call to condemn content creation. On the contrary, content creation is one of the most powerful tools of the digital age. However, it should increasingly be used to inspire, educate, promote innovation, celebrate professional excellence, preserve our culture, and prepare young people for meaningful participation in national development.
The responsibility belongs to all of us—parents, schools, religious institutions, media organisations, government, content creators, and the audience. We all have a role in deciding what we celebrate, what we reward, and ultimately, what kind of nation we hope to build.
If we truly desire a prosperous Nigeria and a stronger Africa, then we must deliberately elevate knowledge above ignorance, integrity above fraud, hard work above shortcuts, and excellence above empty popularity. The future of our society depends on the values we choose to amplify today.
From:
IGE OLALEKAN BABATUNDE, LIGHTHOUSE MEDIA PROMOTION
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