Former Big Brother Naija housemate Seyi Awolowo has stated that brands and corporate leaders share responsibility for the Olodo uprising in Nigeria by prioritising entertainment over academic excellence.
Awolowo made the comments during an appearance on The Nigeria Meter Podcast on July 24, 2026. He said academic competitions such as the Cowbell Mathematics Championship once motivated students and that intelligence was appealing in earlier times. He noted that Nigerian pupils who recently won an international spelling competition received little public recognition compared with celebrities.
The former housemate criticised brands for focusing on social media engagement instead of highlighting intellectual role models. He argued that organisations later complain about the quality of the workforce without acknowledging their own role in the trend.
Awolowo questioned whether commercial interests should come at the expense of the nation's intellectual development. He called for greater celebration of academic achievements to inspire young people.
