President William Ruto has sparked reactions online following his comments made about Nigerians’ use of English.
Speaking to Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, April 20, Ruto praised Kenya’s education system and workforce, saying the country produces some of the best English speakers in the world.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world,” Ruto said. “If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don’t know what they are saying. You need a translator even when they are speaking English.”
Ruto Remarks on Nigerians’ English Face Backlash
The remarks spread quickly online and drew many reactions, especially from Nigerians who felt their country was being judged unfairly and that its language diversity was ignored.
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Manny Jigi, a Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, disagreed with the comments, saying Nigerian English is easy to understand and shaped by the country’s diverse cultures rather than by poor education.
Manny added that British people have often praised their accent, saying the criticism did not reflect their real‑life experience.
Others explained that Nigerians speak English in their own unique way, influenced by local languages, and that what really matters is being understood, not sounding a certain way.
“We create our own version of English; you either understand us or you miss out. Communication is about getting the point across, not perfection.”
Some also argued that speaking English well should not be used to judge a country’s level of development.
One commenter, Christopher, said a nation’s progress should be measured by its human capital, adding that he doubted any country in sub‑Saharan Africa surpasses Nigeria in that area.
Ojo Abdul Azeez, questioned the criticism, asking whether people who struggle to understand Nigerians speaking English would fare any better with Ghanaians. He added that, based on his experience, Nigerians have a better accent than Kenyans.
Earlier Remarks by Nigeria’s President
Ruto’s comments came a few days after Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made remarks during a visit to Bayelsa State on April 10, 2026. Tinubu was in the state to commission road and infrastructure projects carried out by Governor Douye Diri.
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At the event, Tinubu spoke about the economic difficulties Nigerians are facing, especially the rising cost of fuel. He asked citizens to be patient and said the situation in Nigeria was still better than what people were experiencing in some other African countries.
“Yes, I hear you from various angles of the economy. The fuel price is biting hard, but look around,” Tinubu said.
“Let us thank God together that you are better off. Listen to them in Kenya and other African countries, what they are going through.”
Although President Ruto did not mention Tinubu directly, some social media users believe his comments about Nigerians’ English may have been a response.
