Nigerian rapper YCee has expressed concern over what he describes as society’s growing obsession with wealth, arguing that the relentless pursuit of money has contributed to a decline in moral values.
Speaking during a recent interview, the rapper said he believes many people now justify unethical behaviour as long as it leads to financial success.
According to YCee, even countries facing more severe challenges, including armed conflicts, do not always display the same level of questionable behaviour he believes has become common in Nigeria.
“I hate what the pursuit of money has done to us as a society. There are societies that are worse off than Nigeria. War-torn societies where people do not behave as badly as Nigerians. And the excuse is always, ‘so long as you make money,'” he said.
The rapper also addressed the controversy surrounding the phrase “Olodo Uprising,” insisting that he did not originate the expression and that many people misunderstood the point he was trying to make.
According to him, the criticism that followed wrongly portrayed him as being classist or elitist because of his educational background.
“The whole Olodo Uprising frenzy, I didn’t coin the phrase. I feel a lot of people missed my point and are trying to make it seem as though I was classist or elitist because I have some level of education,” he said.
YCee went on to reveal that he does not hold a university degree, explaining that his highest academic qualification is his secondary school certificate.
He disclosed that he had once hoped to study Computer Science at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) but was unable to secure admission because he did not meet the required cut-off mark at the time.
“Mind you, I just have my school cert. I don’t have a university degree.
“It got to some point in SS2 when I couldn’t read anymore. I was like, ‘I’m done.’ I had wanted to study Computer Science, but I couldn’t meet the cut-off to study in UNILAG. But now they’ve reduced the cut-off; maybe if I had written now, I’d have gotten Computer Science,” he added.
YCee’s remarks have sparked fresh conversations on social media, with many users weighing in on his comments about education, wealth and the public reaction to the “Olodo Uprising” debate.
Watch the video below…
Nigerian Rapper Ycee has lamented what he described as Nigeria’s growing obsession with wealth, warning that the pursuit of money is eroding societal values. He also revealed he once aspired to study Computer Science but missed the admission cut-off, reflecting on his academic… pic.twitter.com/cpEa2zQAUc
— The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) July 25, 2026
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