STUDENTS of Yakubu Gowon University have urged stakeholders to give more recognition and support to academic excellence.
They said the viral “Olodo Uprising” trending on social media highlights the need to celebrate knowledge, innovation, and intellectual achievement.
The students made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, while reacting to the increasing popularity of the phrase across social media platforms.
‘Olodo’ is a Yoruba word that means dullard, someone who is academically weak, slow to learn, or intellectually unserious. It is now used widely across Nigeria in pidgin and slang.
‘Olodo Uprising’ is a phrase that went viral in Nigeria in mid-2026 after rapper Ycee used it on the Afropolitan Podcast, to describe what he sees as a cultural shift where ignorance, virality, and popularity are being rewarded more than knowledge, competence, and academic excellence.
The students said that while the trend had generated humour and debate, it also highlighted growing concerns over society’s changing perception of education, expertise and achievement.
One of the students, Mr Judge Adejoh, attributed the popularity of the expression to comments made by Nigerian rapper Ycee.
“The word became popular after Ycee used ‘Peller’ as a euphemism instead of saying ‘Olodo’. Rather than directly insulting people, he implied that people behaving like Peller had become shorthand for celebrating ignorance or a lack of intellectual depth,” Adejoh said.
“To many young Nigerians, ‘Olodo Uprising’ is less about mocking people who struggle academically and more about criticising a growing culture in which confidence often replaces competence.
“It is a reminder that knowledge, critical thinking and expertise should continue to be valued, even in an era driven by viral content and online popularity,” he said.
Another student, Miss Ruth Okonta, said the trend resonated with many Nigerians because it reflected the kind of content that dominated social media.
“Olodo Uprising’ gained attention after Ycee explained it during an interview, and many Nigerians found it relatable to the kind of content they consume,” Okonta said.
According to her, social media algorithms often prioritised entertaining content over educational materials, influencing what many young people watched and shared.
“Social media algorithms tend to recommend entertaining but less meaningful content, and many people consume such content more than educational materials that could improve their knowledge and critical thinking.
“At the same time, the trend has encouraged many users to become more intentional about the type of content they engage with online,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Auwal Sani, a lecturer at the university, said the trend reflected broader societal concerns about how success, relevance and recognition were increasingly defined.
“Visibility appears to matter more than value, while popularity sometimes overshadows competence.
“This does not mean entertainment is unimportant, as the creative industry contributes significantly to economic growth and national identity.
“However, society must strive for a healthy balance between entertainment and intellectual development,” Sani said.
He warned that continued glorification of sensational content at the expense of knowledge and expertise could discourage young people from investing in education.
Another student, Miss Blessing Odeh, said addressing the issues raised by the trend required a deliberate effort to celebrate academic excellence and innovation.
“We can tackle this trend by celebrating academic excellence more, supporting innovation and giving educational content creators and skilled professionals greater visibility in both traditional and digital media.
“When young people consistently see scholars, innovators and professionals being recognised alongside entertainers, it reinforces the message that knowledge and hard work remain valuable,” Odeh said. (NAN)
