2027: Use knowledge to take over power, politics is not played on social media — Dele Momodu
…OAU confers Library Ambassador award on Dele Momodu, Orangun Oke-Ila Veteran journalist and publisher of ‘Ovation’ magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, has urged Nigeria’s Gen Z population to prioritise knowledge acquisition
…OAU confers Library Ambassador award on Dele Momodu, Orangun Oke-Ila
Veteran journalist and publisher of ‘Ovation’ magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, has urged Nigeria’s Gen Z population to prioritise knowledge acquisition and grassroots political engagement if they aspire to leadership roles, warning that politics cannot be effectively practised on social media alone.
He cautioned young Nigerians against trivialising governance, stressing the need to acquire sound political knowledge as a foundation for meaningful participation in leadership.
According to him, politics demands more than online visibility and trends, requiring strategy, experience and sustained engagement at the grassroots to achieve real impact.
Momodu spoke at Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he was conferred with the Library Ambassador Award alongside the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, as part of activities marking the 2026 Library Week.
“Politics is not a game played on social media,” he said.
Speaking as a guest reader, Momodu emphasised the transformative power of knowledge, noting that it liberates individuals from political manipulation and poverty.
READ ALSO: Federal High Court ends manual case filing in Lagos division
He added that while Gen Z has the advantage of technology as a tool for learning, it should not become a distraction, urging them to leverage it in acquiring knowledge and positioning themselves for responsible leadership.
According to him, "We have a lot of problems but through reading about global politics, I know that we have to go through these problems. But I'm hopeful that the more knowledge, our people have about governance, the less we would follow politicians like slaves.
"To my Gen Z, they should read more. If they read more they will know that all the permutations that we do on social media, it doesn't work like that in politics. We should theorise but know that there is a limit to theory. Rather we should get very practical.
"Politics especially Presidential election is going to be a war. People are going to fight because it's about winner takes all. And the president of Nigeria is probably the most powerful president on earth because nobody can query him. He controls the judiciary, legislature, the Gen Zs, the city boys and village boys."
Earlier in her welcome address, the University Librarian, Dr Olukemi Fadehan, disclosed that the reading time event was meant to cultivate minds, inspire curiosity, and nurture a lifelong love for learning
"In an age characterised by rapid technological advancement and information overload, the simple yet profound act of reading remains a cornerstone of intellectual growth and personal development. Reading sharpens our perspectives, deepens our understanding, and connects us to worlds beyond our immediate experience. It is through reading that ideas are born, cultures are preserved, and innovation is Sustained", she said.
