Flutterwave co-founder Iyinoluwa Aboyeji has criticised what he sees as a culture of performance over substance among many young Nigerians, claiming that his generation is too focused on influence and visibility rather than building long-term institutions.
During a podcast interview, Aboyeji stated that many young people spend more time seeking attention online than developing businesses and assets that can fuel long-term economic growth.
According to him, Nigeria’s current generation lacks enough builders and visionaries when compared to previous generations who established major institutions throughout the country. 
“The generation that built Nigeria has passed away. What we have now are influencers,” he said.
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Aboyeji claimed that social media has encouraged people to prioritise appearances over genuine value creation. He went on to say that many people today are more concerned with performing entrepreneurship than with building long-term businesses.
He mentioned that building successful businesses requires patience, wisdom, and a long-term mindset, which he believes many young people lack.
The entrepreneur also explained why he reduced his activity on X (formerly Twitter). While he acknowledged that national conversations on social media are still important, he believes that spending too much time online is no longer productive.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Aboyeji stated that he came to question the value of creating viral content while his peers his age amassed significant assets and built large businesses.
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“I woke up one day and realised I could not keep spending my time writing viral tweets while my mates were buying banks,” he said.
He cited President Bola Tinubu and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as examples of people who had accomplished significant milestones at a young age. He noted that many young Nigerians spend more time criticising leaders than developing the ability to build institutions for themselves.
Aboyeji also mentioned that young entrepreneurs should look beyond online influence and focus on building businesses, assets, and organisations that will leave lasting legacies.
He maintained that meaningful progress would begin when more people stopped seeking validation on social media and committed to creating long-term value.
Nigerians Divided Over Iyinoluwa Aboyeji’s Criticism of Young Nigerians
Nigerians are offering differing opinions on his claim that the current generation focuses more on influence and visibility than on building lasting institutions and businesses. A few people agreed with the Flutterwave co-founder, arguing that social media has created a culture where popularity often receives more attention than value creation.
A commenter acknowledged Aboyeji’s statement; he also noted that people achieve success at different stages of life but agreed with Aboyeji’s broader message about focusing on building meaningful ventures rather than seeking online validation.
@magical_cole, argued that many Nigerians may dislike the message because it is uncomfortable, but insisted that the country needs more builders, innovators and entrepreneurs who can create lasting impact.
Others argued that comparing the current generation with previous generations ignores the economic and social realities of modern Nigeria. A commenter mentioned that while Aboyeji’s point may have merit, access to opportunities, capital and networks differs greatly from one individual to another and also younger Nigerians face barriers to leadership that did not exist to the same extent decades ago.
Aboyeji’s point of view appears to have struck a nerve because they touch on larger questions about what it means to create value, build wealth and leave a lasting legacy in modern Nigeria. Whether people agree with him or not, his comments have reignited discussions about the direction of Nigeria’s youth and the role they will play in shaping their future.
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