In a recent episode of the Drink Champs podcast, Senegalese-American singer, Akon, shared his perspective on Nigerians, hailing them as arguably the “smartest people” in the world. During the lively discussion with co-hosts N.O.R.E and DJ EFN, Akon pointed out that Nigeria has been witnessing a significant rise in the number of billionaires, surpassing any other place globally.
According to Akon, the intelligence and ingenuity of Nigerians are unparalleled, making them stand out on a global scale. He stated, “This could be debatable, but the Nigerians are the smartest people on the planet. I promise you, there is nobody smarter than a Nigerian.”
However, he did acknowledge the presence of a few “bad apples” who have tarnished the country’s image with their actions.
Akon emphasized that if these intelligent individuals could channel their capabilities towards more positive and productive endeavors, Nigeria would experience even greater prosperity. He said, “They [the bad apples] are extremely smart. But they put their intelligence all in the wrong place. If they were to gear that towards something more positive or productive… Because the ones that did, there’s more billionaires being made in Nigeria than anywhere in the world.”
While Akon’s statement may be subject to debate, his admiration for the intellectual prowess of Nigerians was evident throughout the conversation on the podcast. The singer’s insights shed light on the potential Nigeria holds, urging a focus on harnessing the nation’s intelligence for the greater good.
