President Ruto remarks on Nigerian English spark online debate
President William Ruto has sparked discussion on social media after remarks he made about English usage in Nigeria were widely circulated online.
President William Ruto has sparked discussion on social media after remarks he made about English usage in Nigeria were widely circulated online.
Ruto made the comments on Thursday while speaking at the Africa We Build Summit, where he was discussing Kenya’s education system and the competitiveness of its human capital.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We have one of the best English-speaking people in the world,” Ruto said.
He went on to make a comparison involving Nigerian English, saying: “If you listen to a Nigerian speak English, you will need a translator, even when they are speaking English.”
Participants at the meeting broke into laughter.
Ruto then shifted his remarks to a broader point on skills and human capital, saying that some of the best human capital anywhere in the world are Kenyans, and that what is remaining is that it needs to be sharpened through more training.
The remarks, captured in video clips from the event and delivered in a light-hearted tone, quickly circulated on X, where they triggered mixed reactions among users in Nigeria and Kenya.
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Some users treated the comments as light-hearted banter between African countries, while others criticised the comparison, arguing that differences in English usage across the continent are largely influenced by accents, local languages and expressions rather than proficiency.
A section of users defended Nigerian English, describing it as expressive and widely understood in international contexts, while others said Kenyan English tends to sound clearer due to the country’s British-influenced education system.
On X, some users downplayed the reaction, with one post stating: “This is just accent talk. No need for outrage, Africans should relax.”
Another user wrote: “We should stop comparing English and focus on trade and development.”
Other users, however, cautioned against turning linguistic differences into competition, saying African countries should instead focus on economic cooperation rather than comparisons over language.
By Friday, the remarks were still trending online, driven largely by memes, commentary and cross-border online exchanges.
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