The video recently posted by Hazel Onuo, also known as “Whitemoney,” offers a disturbing and narrow portrayal of Nigerian women. In the clip, the winner of *Big Brother Naija* “Shine Ya Eye” Season 6 depicts women as merchandise who answer to money without question. Although he later claimed the post was aimed at men and their need to earn, his remarks still suggest that every woman has a price. By saying, “No woman is out of your league, bro, just make money and create your own game, they’re gonna play,” he encourages men to pursue wealth without explaining how, a message that is at best unhelpful and at worst dangerous.
Onuo’s comments sparked a huge row. Many women in the entertainment sphere confronted him for his reckless statements, and the dispute quickly devolved into name‑calling and worse. The controversy did not end there. A few days later, Onuo appeared with artiste Chinedu Emmanuel, known as Nedu, who is himself notorious for speculating about the sexual indiscretions of female artistes. Together they launched another attack on female integrity, this time targeting women who have participated in the *BBN* reality show. Nedu claimed that many of these women are solicitous to his rich friends and suggested that they join the show primarily to “show off” and attract men. Whether or not his colleagues truly seek his intervention, his willingness to air such accusations publicly reveals a kiss‑and‑tell character. By refusing to keep these matters confidential, he and Whitemoney cast suspicion on an entire class of Nigerian women, even though they did not name anyone—an omission that makes the insinuations even more damaging.
The hypocrisy of these men is striking. They accuse Nigerian women of sleeping with wealthy men to make ends meet or meet societal expectations, yet they ignore the demand and patronage that enable such behavior. Why is there no discussion of the men who exploit women, nor of the anti‑social or criminal actions some men commit to maintain appearances or achieve success? The “Nedus” and “Whitemoneys” of the country never call out “toy boys” who prey on older women, nor do they address the rampant advance‑fee fraud, “yahoo‑yahoo” scams, ritual killings, or kidnappings. Their call to “create your own game” lacks any caution about hard work, honesty, respect for the rule of law, or the well‑being of Nigerians, effectively inviting impunity. Misguided individuals may latch onto this model without critical reflection.
This does not mean that Nigeria lacks women whose “god is money.” Such women exist, as do many men with similar motives, both in Nigeria and worldwide. Nevertheless, Nigeria also boasts world‑class women across every sector—medicine, law, accounting, politics, academia, engineering, and innovation. At every educational level, girls achieve first‑class results and make their families proud. Even in a frustrating job market, many young women refuse to “bow their heads to Baal,” as Christians say; they cling to their values and hope for a better future despite the temptations presented by Whitemoney and his affluent peers.
Nigeria’s leaders must confront the epidemic of wealth addiction that has gripped the nation’s soul. The craze for riches has become so pervasive that teenagers, dreaming of luxury cars and mansions, resort to murder, kidnapping, and ritual practices to acquire wealth. Last year, a viral video showed three teenagers admitting their desire to become fraudsters and ritual killers for money. While parental neglect certainly contributes—parents overwhelmed by survival often lack the time or will to instill proper values—some even encourage their children to earn money by any means, including exploiting their bodies. These behaviors reflect the broader social consequences of an uncaring state.
Corruption, disregard for processes, and the devaluation of values have glorified money and degraded society. In his 1980 book *Wealth Addiction*, the late American sociologist Philip Slater described money as a powerful drug that weakens people and robs them of freedom. Politicians have plundered the country so thoroughly that the gap between rich and poor widens, annihilating the middle class. Poverty is now endemic; most Nigerians earn modest salaries yet must pay annual rent, fund education, and cover medical expenses out of pocket. Consequently, many are willing to step on others to obtain a little more wealth and improve their status.
New Nigerian leaders must improve citizens’ living conditions by providing decent housing, transportation, healthcare, and education. With these necessities secured, the obsession with wealth would diminish, and life would become more meaningful for all. Currently, money functions as the only true religion for many Nigerians, regardless of their faith—a troubling state for any nation.
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