Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Oladede, has responded lightheartedly to President William Ruto’s remarks suggesting that Kenyans speak the best English in Africa.
Ruto had suggested that Nigerian English can be difficult to understand even for other English speakers, triggering laughter during a past event and a wave of reactions across social media.
“I bring good tidings from Nigeria, and the people of Nigeria have mandated me to inform you and assure you that we in Nigeria speak good English. I extend my profound appreciation,” Oladede said.
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.
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.”
The conversation also revived broader discussions on English proficiency rankings in Africa, where Kenya often features among higher-ranked countries in various global surveys.
Other users, however, cautioned against turning linguistic differences into competition, saying African countries should instead focus on economic cooperation rather than comparisons over language.
The Nigerian Minister spoke on Tuesday during the Kenya Mining Investment Conference & Exhibition in Nairobi.
The event is designed to highlight Kenya’s mineral portfolio, promote sustainable investment and provide a credible platform for dialogue among sector stakeholders who include government, investors, industry leaders, development partners and mining communities.
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