Everything Is Learnable. Even in the Age of the "Olodo Uprising."

Maybe the Real Problem Isn't the "Olodo Uprising". Maybe It's How We Think About Learning.

For the past few days, Nigerian X has been buzzing with one phrase: “Olodo Uprising.”

For context, “olodo” is a Nigerian slang word often used to describe someone seen as dull, slow to understand, or not academically strong. It can be playful in some settings, but it can also be deeply insulting depending on how it's used.

Depending on which side of the conversation you stand, it’s either a hilarious, harsh criticism of today’s internet culture, or a genuine wake-up call. People have argued about whether society now celebrates ignorance more than excellence. Others have defended entertainers, pointing out that they’re simply thriving in a system that rewards attention. The debate has gone in every direction.

But beneath the jokes and hot takes lies a much more important question: when did learning stop being something to aspire to?

Somewhere along the way, many of us started treating education like a destination. Graduate, collect your certificate, close the book forever. But the world doesn't work that way anymore. Technology changes every day. Industries evolve. Jobs disappear. New careers emerge almost overnight. In a world that's constantly shifting, the people who thrive aren't necessarily the ones who knew the most yesterday. They're the ones who are still willing to learn today.

Here’s something we don’t say enough: nobody knows everything. Every software engineer was once confused by their first line of code. Every designer once struggled to use design tools. Every data analyst once stared at spreadsheets that made absolutely no sense. Everyone starts somewhere.

There’s no shame in not knowing. The danger is becoming comfortable with never finding out. Curiosity is what changes lives.

Social media often celebrates what’s immediate, the funniest clip, the loudest opinion, the quickest reaction. Learning works differently. It’s mostly quiet and frustrating. It asks you to fail repeatedly before you finally understand whatever it is you are trying to learn. You don’t become exceptional because one line of code went through. You become exceptional because you kept showing up everyday especially when nobody was watching irregardless of how frustrating it is.

Over here at Genesys, we’ve watched graduates with no technical background become software engineers. We’ve seen young people who doubted themselves build products, launch careers, and solve real-world problems not necessarily because they started as geniuses, but because they decided to remain students and put in the work.

That’s why we’ve always believed one simple truth: everything is learnable. Not because we think learning is easy, it’s more so about people being more capable than they think.

Imagine if we celebrated asking thoughtful questions as much as having quick opinions. Imagine if trying, failing, and learning became just as viral as trends. Imagine if more young Nigerians believed they could learn the skills that shape the future, instead of assuming those opportunities belonged to someone else.

For us, the opposite of being an “olodo” isn’t knowing everything. It’s never losing the courage to learn.

So, as you head into this new week
Before you scroll past the next debate, the next hot take, the next thing everyone has an opinion about, pause and ask yourself one question: what am I learning right now?

Not what you’re casually watching or what you’re arguing about but what you’re actually learning.

Pick one skill. Read one article. Watch one tutorial. Start one thing you’ve been putting off because you weren’t sure you were smart enough for it. You are. The week ahead is yours to do something useful with.

And if you’re ready to make learning more than a resolution we’re always here for that.

Until next time,
Keep Learning. Keep Building.