Nigerians have reacted to the comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari at Commonwealth Business Forum in London accusing much Nigerian youth of laziness.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, the president said a lot of Nigerian youth have not been to school and they want everything free.
In his words:
“More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free.”
The comment has sparked outrage and public condemnation with many saying it failed to convey the reality of Nigerian youth’s exploits.
Many Nigerians who took to their social media accounts with the hashtag #LazyNigerianYouths and #HardWorkingNigerianYouth express their dissatisfaction with the President’s comment.
Let's define lazy pic.twitter.com/v2zcWm1VcU
— kwatmi_Tyron (@kwatmi_Tyron) April 19, 2018
I try to not comment on politics but we CAN NOT CONTINUE TO LEAVE POLITICS TO POLITICIANS.
Dear @MBuhari , I have 3 degrees and you do not have one; I did not graduate from University when cars and jobs were waiting for graduates; y#LazyNigerianYouths #TimesUp #Movement
— Dr. Adeola Olubamiji (@adexmee) April 19, 2018
Graduate of petroleum tech.
I own a fabric trading biz
I run a poultry.
I buy and sell grains.
I run an NGO that caters for girls.
I am the president of GIST mentoring school.
I am a creative writer.
I am a wife and a mother.
I am under 30.
Nope! I am not a #LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/B35gyNRCmr— Jenny Tim-Okoliko (@JennyGISTers) April 19, 2018
She's not a #LazyNigerianYouths
She's graduate of Physics from EKSU,with a masters degree from UI & on a PhD program in UI.
She has kidney failure,she needs 12 million naira. 1 million already raised.
Ope-Lawal Adeola
0030635147
GtbankPlease help RT @segalink @DrJoeAbah pic.twitter.com/cs1kbuDSa3
— Tosin Olugbenga (Minding My Business) (@TosinOlugbenga) April 19, 2018
We stay home all day and play ludo #LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/vEztOeoyXq
— Oga Web Designer🇳🇬 (@samCodeNg) April 19, 2018
Nigerian Youths are lazy!
Yet, here’s Abdulrahim from Unguwan Dosa Kaduna.
No Education; Yes.
Disabled; Yes.Yet works hard with one leg just to earn a living, where others will see an opportunity to beg.
WE’RE NOT LAZY!
TAKE BACK YOUR WORDS SIR @MBuhari
#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/mDwhe4Mbj5— Wunderkid (@WunderKid_) April 19, 2018
AND of course, Politicians took advantage
Nigeria Youths Are Not Lazy, PDP Replies @MBuhari: Nigerian youths, by their demonstrated industry, cannot in any way be described by anybody as lazy. We find it extremely shocking that @MBuhari could make such a false, derogatory and unpatriotic comment against our citizens pic.twitter.com/mjXGYQmQys
— Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) April 19, 2018
I will never refer to Nigeria's youth as people who sit and do nothing. They are hardworking. I should know, I have thousands of youths working for me all over the country who have been the backbone to our success.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) April 19, 2018
Nigerian youths not lazy, they must vote against Buhari in 2019, Fayose says https://t.co/EglmZQOVYk
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) April 20, 2018
Social Media Activists too
Hmmmm.
But you were not #LazyNigerianYouths when you voted in 2015.
God know that the BEST RESPONSE is usually evidence-based.
Just DEFINITELY go get your #PVC now and vote in 2019. 🚶🏾♀️🚶🏾♀️🚶🏾♀️🚶🏾♀️🚶🏾♀️#GreatestNigerianYouths!🇳🇬✅🚀
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) April 19, 2018
Buhari should go to Obalende at 4am or Ikeja by 12am.Youth strive to wade through the failed educational system & the nasty job market
No Jobs: We became Entrepreneurs
No Light: We still generate our own electricity
No Govt support: We still fend for ourselves#LazyNigerianYouths— Iyá Lájè Of Lagos (@newscantell) April 19, 2018
This is the most falsified representation of Nigerian Youths I've ever heard of. Nigerians have never acted entitled, most of us do not even know what it means to be an Oil Producing Country, we buy petrol at exorbitant rates….#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/TV3BDNQgQP
— FAVOUR ONYEOZIRI (GCFR) (@Rouvafe) April 19, 2018
See lazy Nigerians doing nothing but waiting for oil money 😪😪😪#LazyNigerianYouths pic.twitter.com/6ihSzshfn7
— #ToRussiaWithCoke ✈️ (@badgalmaddie_) April 19, 2018
A few days ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in Lagos to meet young innovators at Andela and the larger tech community in Yaba.The hub which is driven by young innovators and entrepreneurs and is widely seen as a manifestation of their entrepreneur skill.
The president is currently attending the Commonwealth business forum in London this is the first time since 1997, the UK will host Commonwealth leaders for the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting; representing the interests of over 2.6 billion people.
Follow the link below for more…
https://twitter.com/search?q=Lazy%20Nigerian%20youths&src=tyah
So disappointed with the derogatory presentation of our President before the whole world !!! May I ask u Mr. President; how many graduates are being produced quarterly for youth corps service in the country and we don’t go to school? How many of them are being employed at the end of the youth service? How many vibrant young candidates are striving to gain admission into university thru Jamb but being denied? How many unemployed graduates trying to go entrepreneurial but hinder by Nigeria factors of poor economic incentive program in the country have actually being assisted by government? Despite all these, our entrepreneurial activities in the informal sector still have significant impact on the National income. Mr. President, the vibrant youth of this great nation though being mismanaged by politicians deserve to be honoured for thier persevering spirit of entrepreneurship no matter what it may be. Thanks sir.
What do Nigerians expect. When Nigerians were told before 2015 election buhari had no educatioal degree they said they will take his nepa bill. Wow the bullshit that comes with nepa bill man. Buhari so lazy never after leaving office did not seeking higher learning, has never written a book, chair a board of a company or university in Nigeria. However, seeked for the highest public office in the country and got it.
what a wonderful world said satchmol armstrong.what a wonderful young Nigerians,they curses like no body in our planet.me think young Nigerians can look after themselves.every time mr buhari opens his mouth,he offends somebody.if is not past leader,now he is taking on young Nigeria,now he have lost the next general general election.mr buhari should apologises to young Nigerians,as they are the ones who voted for him,they wanted changes fast, and faster,they are the one who voted out GEJ.
They have started with Mr buhari high school NEPA bill certificate,they tasked MR buhari,what project he constructed in his 3 yrs in office.BRING IT ON MR BUHARI.WE CAN TAKE ON MR BUHARI,did they said,they have awaken the sleeping tiger,as they are getting very personal.they are taking on his wife and his children