When someone who has helped build two billion-dollar technology companies questions the direction of his generation, his words are bound to spark debate. Flutterwave and Andela co-founder Iyinoluwa Aboyeji has delivered one of his strongest critiques yet of Nigeria’s younger generation, arguing that too many young people have become consumed by visibility and performance rather than the patient work of building institutions.
Speaking during an interview on the Afropolitan Podcast, Aboyeji lamented what he described as the disappearance of a generation of nation-builders, replacing them with a generation driven by influence and public perception.
“The generation of people who built Nigeria has passed away. What you have now are influencers. We’re a generation of influencers,” he said.
According to the entrepreneur, social media has created an environment where many young Nigerians are rewarded for appearing successful rather than creating lasting value.
“So people are trained to perform, not to build. And you see it seeping into companies, where people want to perform entrepreneurship instead of actually building companies,” he said. “People don’t understand value. People don’t understand building. They don’t have the wisdom to build. They don’t know things take time.”
Aboyeji, who became the first African entrepreneur to co-found two technology unicorns, Andela and Flutterwave, said he has deliberately stepped away from the distractions of social media because they consume time that could be invested in creating lasting impact.
“It just takes a few people to say, ‘Guys, I’m tired of performing,'” he said, revealing that he left X, formerly Twitter, because it had become “a waste of my time.”
His criticism extended beyond business to political leadership. Aboyeji questioned whether his generation had produced enough individuals with the experience, accomplishments and institution-building credentials required to govern Nigeria.
Drawing comparisons with older political figures, he argued that many of today’s established leaders had already built significant institutions while they were relatively young. He cited President Bola Tinubu’s role in supporting the pro-democracy movement through NADECO and pointed to Peter Obi’s entrepreneurial achievements, saying both had tangible accomplishments before reaching middle age.
Using those examples, Aboyeji challenged young Nigerians to move beyond constant criticism of political leaders and instead focus on creating businesses, institutions and economic value that can shape the country’s future.
He also questioned the obsession with online popularity, arguing that digital influence should never be mistaken for enduring success.
“We are different versions of Davido and Wizkid… we are just performing artists, all of us,” he remarked, suggesting that many young professionals have become more interested in branding themselves than building enterprises that can outlive them.
Aboyeji urged his peers to redirect their energy toward creating wealth, jobs and institutions capable of being passed on to future generations.
“Let me go and enter the streets. And build. And build something that I can pass on to my children. Is it your Twitter you are going to give your children?” he asked.
Reflecting on his own career, the investor admitted that he, too, has had moments of introspection, questioning whether enough of his time had been devoted to creating enduring assets instead of seeking public attention.
“I can’t waste my time… while, at 35, my mates were buying banks. What did I buy?” he said.
He ended with a blunt verdict on his generation, insisting that honest self-assessment must come before meaningful change.
“So we’re a generation of jokers. We just need to tell ourselves the truth first… then we’ll now be able to say, ‘I think playtime is over.'”
Aboyeji’s remarks have generated widespread reactions, with some praising his call for long-term institution building while others argue that his comparisons overlook the vastly different economic and political realities facing younger Nigerians today. Regardless of where one stands, his comments have reignited an important conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship and whether the next generation is building legacies or merely chasing relevance.
