Influencer’s ‘I’m from Lagos’ claim prompts heated discussion on Nigerian Identity

News Express |23rd Sep 2025 | 136
Influencer’s ‘I’m from Lagos’ claim prompts heated discussion on Nigerian Identity

Influencer sisioyibo Photo credit: sisioyiboInstagram




A resurfaced video of social media influencer Sisi. Oyibo has stirred heated debate online over identity, migration, and what it means to “belong” in Nigeria.

The clip, recently reshared by X user Sir Dickson (@Wizarab10) on Sunday, shows the influencer addressing critics who questioned her Nigerian identity despite her foreign background.

In the video, she lashed out at those doubting her roots, saying they must be out of their minds. She explained, “I said I’m white, I’m French, Lebanese, but they raised me in Ajah since I be pikin. I cannot be from somewhere again.”

She also compared her situation to that of Nigerians abroad.

According to her, “If they raise you somewhere… every time you ask somebody for this America, even Nigerians, you ask them, where are you from? They will tell you, Houston, Texas, because they raised them in Houston. So me, that was raised in Lagos, I cannot say I’m from Nigeria again…”

Sir Dickson, while sharing the video, condemned what he called double standards.

He wrote: “This thing Nigerians do irritates me. A Nigerian would be raised in London or Atlanta and start claiming to be British or American. But when a foreigner raised in Nigeria does the same, you find a way to talk down on them. Migration happens both ways. You need to wake up.”

On Instagram, many applauded Sisi.Oyibo’s fluency in pidgin and Lagos upbringing.

One user, smartalliolayinka, declared: “You are a Lagosian. Period.”

Another, paolofrancis07, praised her speech, writing: “I’m loving it for the way u speak, girl. It’s awesome.”

Others responded humorously, with phrases like “You stone Texis” going viral.

On X, however, the discussion expanded into deeper issues of identity and migration.

Commenting on the matter, @Amaafrikaa argued that if Nigerians abroad can boldly claim British or American, then a foreigner raised here has every right to claim Nigerian too.

He said, “Belonging isn’t about blood alone, it’s also about where you grow, live, and build.”

Others pointed out that the real issue was not just identity but its geographical context.

Another user, @UC_Emeliem, suggested that the outrage was more about geography than identity itself, saying: “Most of these people are not angry that she identifies as a Nigerian; the problem is the Lagos that is involved. If she had mentioned any other part of Nigeria, they would have celebrated her online.”

Some defended her outright. To @PontiffVoice, who wrote, “If you are born and brought up in Lagos, you are rightfully a Lagosian. Period.” (PUNCH)




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Tuesday, September 23, 2025 11:15 AM
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