Reality TV star Phyna has ignited a fiery debate online after delivering a blunt and deeply personal response to comments made by Moniepoint CEO Tosin Eniolorunda about the quality of Nigeria’s workforce.
The controversy began after Eniolorunda, speaking at The Platform event in Lagos on May 1, revealed that his company currently has hundreds of unfilled roles despite focusing its hiring efforts within Nigeria.
“We have maybe 500 vacancies and we are struggling to find people to fill those roles.”
He added that many applicants fall short of the “global standards” required and further raised concerns about what he described as a decline in reasoning levels and the growing influence of get-rich-quick culture among young Nigerians.
Phyna did not hold back in her response, calling the CEO’s remarks “really, really disrespectful” and shifting the blame from individuals to systemic failure.
“This country can make you drop your intelligence just to be fooling, because that’s what they notice.”
Her statement quickly went viral, resonating with many Nigerians who feel the system often rewards survival tactics over education and skill.
In one of the most talked-about moments, Phyna revealed she holds an engineering degree.
“If the country gets better now, I will drop all this my fooling and dust my certificate, I have it.”
The comment struck a chord online, with many pointing to it as evidence of how economic realities can force even educated individuals into unconventional career paths.
Phyna also questioned whether the roles being advertised truly reflect Nigeria’s cost of living.
“I doubt anybody’s salary is 500,000. 500,000 cannot get you a decent place to stay in Nigeria.”
She contrasted corporate jobs with the growing appeal of digital platforms, noting that some individuals earn comparable or even higher income independently.
“Somebody will stay on TikTok and make over 500,000, and then this person will come and be working for you?”
Drawing from personal experience, Phyna highlighted the stark difference in working conditions between Nigeria and more structured economies.
“When I went to London… they go to work easily and they are paid very well.”
She contrasted that with the daily struggles Nigerians face.
“Here, you wake up, you buy light, buy water, police will harass you.”
The rebuttal has since sparked a wider national conversation about whether Nigeria’s employment challenges stem from a talent gap—or deeper structural issues like wages, infrastructure, and opportunity.
While Eniolorunda’s comments focused on workforce quality, Phyna’s response has reframed the issue entirely by arguing that intelligence is not lacking, but rather undervalued in a system that makes survival the priority.