As the Nigeria general elections approach, more and more individuals are publicly expressing their political preferences. One group that has often faced criticism for their political support or lack thereof are Nigerian tech entrepreneurs. This is partly due to the fact that a number of popular Nigerian tech entrepreneurs campaigned for the country’s current leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration has been plagued by issues such as his personal preference for health tourism, economic instability, insecurity, and a lack of support for the tech sector.
In 2022, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated tech entrepreneurs, Iyin Aboyeji (OON), was photographed at a policy presentation event for APC Presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and faced backlash for his appearance. There have been arguments that, given the Senator’s membership in the ruling party (APC) and the party’s failure to meet the needs of the Nigerian youth during the #ENDSARS protests, other candidates such as Labour Party’s Peter Obi may be more suitable for the job.
On this episode of the TechCity Podcast, host BellaRose Okojie-Duruji and guest co-host Tega Odia discuss the contentious question of whether tech entrepreneurs should publicly support political parties or individuals. They also delve into the engagement of the tech sector by certain candidates and how it compares to the current reality in Nigeria.
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