Former Big Brother Naija star and actor Seyi Awolowo has spoken out strongly about the state of the nation, saying his late grandfather, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, would be deeply disappointed if he were alive today.
The grandson of the legendary statesman shared his views on the Conversations With Kenni podcast hosted by Kehinde Ajose.
When asked what the sage would say about present-day Nigeria, Seyi first admitted the weight of speaking for such a monumental figure.
“I don’t even know if I have the right to speak on a monumental figure like that. He’s a sage and more,” he said.
He then delivered a clear verdict:
“I don’t think he’d be very happy with us. I think he’d be very disappointed with where we have gotten to.”
Seyi zeroed in on education, the signature legacy of his grandfather who introduced free primary education in the Western Region in the 1950s.
“For someone who was a custodian of free education and now, education is on the brinks… the capitalist-imperialist system has gotten deep into it that now, education is only for the elite and not for the everyday man,” he explained.
He noted that in the past, children from different tribes benefited as long as they lived in the Western Region. Today, he said, many schools lack basic facilities while public officials flaunt luxury.
“Some schools in some local governments don’t have roofs or chairs, but the officials are walking around with $100,000 wristwatches or they want to sit down in SUVs worth billions,” Seyi stated.
He questioned how a country with oil and rare earth minerals cannot fund basic education when the Western Region achieved it with far fewer resources.
The actor also addressed healthcare and national sovereignty. He referenced a statistic that Nigeria has only about 55,000 doctors, many of whom still seek opportunities abroad.
“Why haven’t they made the healthcare lucrative enough for the doctors to want to stay behind?” he asked.
He further lamented that key sectors appear to operate as partnerships with foreign interests rather than fully Nigerian-controlled systems.
Seyi Awolowo, who rose to fame on Big Brother Naija Season 4 and has since built an acting career, has often spoken about the pressure of carrying the Awolowo name. He never met his grandfather, who died before he was born, yet he continues to reflect on the values of free education, accountability and nation-building that defined the late Premier of the Western Region.
His latest comments add to ongoing national debates about leadership priorities, public spending and the future of Nigerian youth.