In a time when Nigeria is grappling with political disengagement, Mr Monye brings a fresh perspective on tackling these challenges. As a former political adviser to a governorship candidate and chairman of the Delta State Esports Association, he emphasizes the importance of community engagement, good governance, and accountability as pillars for a better society.
During a candid interview with Inside Success Nigeria, Mr Morris Monye expressed his belief that empowering the youth is key to achieving real change, calling on them to become more involved in shaping the nation’s future. His vision is clear: only through active participation and leadership can the nation move toward a more accountable and effective government. His unique experiences offer a fresh perspective on leadership and change.
Mr Monye shared his thoughts on the need for reduced political apathy in Nigeria and how grassroots movements, including esports, can galvanize the country’s youth to take charge of their future.
As a youth influencer, businessman, and social commentator. Mr Monye, could you tell us a bit about your background, what inspired you, and the values that shaped you into the leader you are today?
After completing my National Youth Service in 2016, I chose to work for myself, though like many young Nigerians, I initially followed the typical path of seeking a stable job. I worked at a bank for about six years, progressing in my career, but something always felt missing.
During the End SARS protest in 2020, after four years at the bank, I had a pivotal realization. The routine of waking up early, going to work, returning late, and earning a set salary was acceptable for some, but I started thinking beyond that. Life couldn’t just be about working for myself—I felt a deeper need to uplift others.
I wanted to contribute meaningfully to society. Life is short, and if you pass away without having made an impact or without people knowing what you stood for, what’s the point? This understanding fueled my passion to empower young people. Despite not having an abundance of resources at the time, I saw my social media presence, especially on Twitter (now X), as a platform to begin. I had about 50 thousand followers then and some of my customers were even my fans at some point.
The End SARS movement opened my eyes, and I started crowdfunding for those in need, organizing training sessions, seminars, and mentorship programs for young people, particularly those who had just completed their service year and were uncertain about their next steps. Many have come to me for guidance, and I’ve been able to provide mentorship. I’ve seen the positive impact of this work, and things have only improved since then.
You mentioned End Sars. Did this protest facilitate how you became the political adviser for the former governorship candidate, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour?
Let me share some background. My elder brother, Chuka Monye, was running for president under the ADC, alongside Kingsley Moghalu, who was also in the same party. They both contested in the primaries. In January 2022, I resigned from my bank job to join my brother’s campaign team. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it through the primaries, and this was around the time Peter Obi moved from the PDP to the Labour Party to run for president. By June 2022, I decided to support Obi because I believed he was the best candidate, aside from my brother.
Interestingly, I had never met Obi before joining his team—no prior relationship, no introduction. But I believed in his vision and decided to get involved. We mobilized young people, conducted outreach programs, raised funds, and campaigned actively. It was my first real involvement in politics, and I found it incredibly fulfilling. We set up structures, organized events, and built connections across various communities.
I took on an advisory and strategic role, leading efforts to coordinate volunteers and establish call centers to reach out to people daily. The response was overwhelmingly positive, showing that when young people are given the right support and mentorship, they are eager to engage and make a difference.
We also created small community groups, primarily on WhatsApp, where regular meetings were held to discuss issues in different areas and provide support when needed. I continued this work through July, August, and September, fully immersed in the campaign.
Out of the blue, I received a call from Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV). I didn’t know him, and I wasn’t sure how he got my number, but he introduced himself and told me he was running for governor of Lagos State. He said he had seen what I was doing for Obi and needed similar support.
At that time, Funsho Doherty, who was also running for governor under the ADC, had my support because my brother had been running for president under the same party. I told GRV I couldn’t commit to helping him, but after some thought, I decided to watch him closely.
Back then, hardly anyone knew who Gbadebo was. I compared both candidates—Funsho was brilliant and smart. We often had meetings at the state chairman’s house, where my brother, Funsho, and the ADC team would brainstorm. But GRV was young, just 40 years old at the time, close to my age, which made it easy for me to relate to him.
In the end, after careful consideration, I chose to support Gbadebo. I spoke to Funsho about my decision, and he took it well, with no hard feelings.
I met Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV) for the first time in person at a restaurant in Lekki, where he set up a meeting for us to discuss our partnership. Lagos needed someone with a real plan for the state. If you pay taxes in Lagos, it’s clear that the money isn’t being properly utilized. Take the road from Ajah to Lekki, for instance—it’s in such bad shape that I’ve personally lost three tyres on it. People often ask how politics affects them, but it’s simple: you pay taxes, and if the roads are bad, you should be able to take your concerns to the governor. We needed a leader who was accessible, so I decided to join GRV’s team.
I spoke with Sheriif, who used to work with GRV, and we mapped out our social media strategy. We had to be strategic because we were pushing both Peter Obi and GRV. Some people believed we should focus solely on Obi, thinking that if he won, GRV would naturally be in the spotlight. I disagreed with that approach. I stressed the importance of promoting Gbadebo directly. And today, we can see how that strategy paid off—there are LP governors and candidates, but after the elections, most of them aren’t remembered as much as they should be.
We gathered volunteers and held regular meetings in GRV’s spacious office. Our team made numerous calls to ensure people were aware of Gbadebo’s candidacy. The response was very positive, and based on the data we had, we were confident we could win Lagos. However, during the governorship race, we saw clear signs of voter disenfranchisement, likely because of the strong momentum we had created with Obi’s campaign.
Looking back, my work with Gbadebo felt like it was guided by God. Interestingly enough, I still don’t know where he lives to this day.
As a social media influencer, how has your platform helped promote good governance, and what role do you think social media plays in youth activism today?
Good governance affects all of us, yet I often see comments like, “I don’t like politics.” But should we leave politics to the thugs and criminals? This concerns you because the standard of living keeps worsening—just look at the price of a crate of eggs, now around 7,000 naira. Disliking politics doesn’t exempt you from the hardship; fuel prices don’t get cheaper just for you. This is why I encourage people to get involved—every one of us has a role to play.
When smart young people refuse to engage, old and foolish people end up ruling. I never get tired of addressing this issue because it’s vital. We need to speak up and get involved. Know who your House of Representatives members are, know your local government chairman—let them be aware that they are known and being watched.
What challenges do you think hinder young people from seeking accountability from the government, especially regarding local government elections, as discussed at the recent Local Government Election Sensitization Conference which you attended earlier this month?
At the conference, I asked a question: How many people know their local government chairman? I don’t know mine either. This is a product of a corrupt system. We witness local government elections where nobody campaigns, yet they secure the seat through rigging. If you campaign during elections, people will definitely get to know you. But these candidates don’t care because the results are often predetermined.
Even if we set aside rigged offices, once someone has won the seat and is governing the district, we should hold them accountable. Until we have local government elections where candidates actively campaign, true accountability will be hard to achieve. For now, it’s all a sham. Without posters or visibility, we don’t even know who they are.
That’s why I appreciate the LGES initiative—it’s a starting point. Thanks to the conference, I learned that local governments receive 500-600 million naira every month. We need more events like the LGES that inform us and encourage us to ask the right questions.
How can we leverage digital platforms to make governance more accesible and transparent to people?
I always say social media is the fourth arm of government. Without it, I can’t imagine how we would communicate with the government at all. I think back to the days of NTA or AIT, where everything was censored, and we had limited ways to express ourselves. But now, with social media, everything is posted—bad roads, poor schools, and more. When these issues go viral, the government feels the pressure to respond. Social media plays a very big role and I thank God that we are in this era of social media. We can even direct posts at the President directly and he will see them. The government needs to take advantage of social media to talk to the people directly and know what they need.
Do you see an increase in activism due to the rise in social media usage?
Of course, there is already an increase especially with the situation of the country. Fuel price is literally hitting 1200-1300. You are forced to be an activist.
How have you been able to empower the youth with your appointment as the Chairman of the Delta State Esports Association and how has the journey been so far?
It’s been quite hectic juggling my business while ensuring things are done right within the association. The goal of the association is to help the youth because unemployment is rampant in the state. As an indigene, it’s heartbreaking to see young people, including graduates, resorting to driving blue keke napep just to make ends meet. Those without jobs often turn to thuggery, kidnapping, armed robbery, and other crimes.
The Esports association is determined to take these youths off the streets by offering a platform where they can be trained to become gaming experts. Some even go on to compete in international competitions. They earn money when they perform well, with prizes ranging from 10 to 20 million naira. This gives the youth an opportunity to build a future for themselves.
You mentioned your ‘Citizens Engagement’ initiative at LGES, tell us how the plan has manifested so far?
Yeah, it’s part of the process of making the country better, and it’s to kick off next year. We talk to people in the state and let them know that life can be better than getting boreholes in the community. We can have running water in each household instead of settling for the bare minimun. Schools should be renovated, teachers paid well and all. We can create awareness, but the government is left to fix the problem. We should never settle for mediocrity. The citizens are also allowed to tell us about their problems. Our focus is Lagos and Delta state for now.
Finally, Mr Monye, what message do you have for the people in view of the next election?
To be truly involved, we learned in 2023 that INEC can’t always fully support us. The theme for the next election should be “close marking.” I believe my candidate won the last election, but we all saw what happened with INEC. It’s crucial for us to stay engaged and not be discouraged. Things only get worse if we give up. We cannot afford to stay silent. Let’s get our PVCs and take charge of our polling units—it’s the only way to make sure our voices are heard.
Now more than ever, it’s time to hold our leaders accountable and push for the progress we deserve. Let’s all play a part in shaping a better future by demanding transparency and championing positive change. Together, we can create the society Mr Monye envisions—one built on accountability and growth.
Thank you for being part of this community. If you are passionate about driving change through youth empowerment, and workshops, send us an email to info@insidesuccessnigeria.com. Find more related articles on our website. Kindly subscribe to our website and follow us on our Instagram @ insidesuccessnigeria to get more updates.
Leave a Reply