Some Nigerian internet scammers are geniuses but need redirection — Peter Obi

The former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has described internet fraudsters popularly called Yahoo boys as “geniuses who need redirection.”

He made the remark while addressing a large gathering of young people during the Golden Health Conference held at the Archbishop Patterson Auditorium, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha on Saturday.

The conference, themed “Money Beyond Wealth,” brought together students, professionals, and youth leaders to discuss the moral, social, and economic dimensions of wealth creation.

Speaking at the event, Obi noted that while money is an important tool in human progress, it constitutes only a small part of true wealth.

He said: “Money becomes real wealth only when it is earned through ethical means and used to uplift both the individual and society in an edifying manner.”

He condemned the inordinate pursuit of money, particularly the activities of cybercriminals commonly referred to as Yahoo boys.

Obi observed that despite their moral misdirection, many of them possess rare intelligence and creativity that, if properly guided, could drive innovation and national development.

“Looking at what they do, there is no doubt that many of them are geniuses. The challenge before us as a society is to redirect them—to channel their ingenuity into productive ventures that will not only dignify them but also edify society,” he said.

Lamenting the state of moral decay in the country, Obi attributed much of it to leadership failure and the bad examples set by those in power.

“We cannot build a healthy society when those in authority glorify greed, celebrate impunity, and promote corruption,” he remarked.

He further stressed that rebuilding the nation must begin with restoring integrity in public life.

“Getting it right as a nation, must include getting it right in politics. When political leadership fails, every other sector suffers.”

Encouraging young people to embrace productivity and hard work, Obi revisited a past controversy in which he was misquoted regarding night vigils. Clarifying his stance.

He said: “There is nothing wrong with night vigils. What I said was that while Friday and Saturday nights can be for vigils, the other nights should be for productive work. We must build a culture that values creativity, diligence, and enterprise.”

He urged the youth to learn from the success stories of global innovators, many of whom started as young dreamers with little support. Citing Indonesia as an example, Obi explained how its government empowers young entrepreneurs through functional ministries, financial support, and innovation hubs—a sharp contrast to Nigeria’s neglect of its creative youth population.