Nigeria’s Silent English Privilege

The Luck of English: Nigeria’s Unseen Advantage

In Chapter 13 of “Physics of the Impossible”, Micho Machu discusses Parallel Universes. There is the “many worlds” idea, proposed by Hugh Everett in 1957. In this interpretation of quantum mechanics, there is a parallel world in which the Nazis won World War II, and a world where the Spanish Armada was never defeated and everyone is speaking in Spanish. According to this idea, there are an infinite number of parallel universes.

And it got me thinking of a world where Fredrick Lugard did not move swiftly to ensure that the place you call Nigeria today did not fall into the hands of the French colonizers. In fact, over 60% of Africa speaks either French or Arabic. We could have easily ended up as a Francophone nation, reciting “Je suis Nigérian” instead of “I am Nigerian.”

The more I think about it, the more I believe that of all the fortunes that history has bestowed upon Nigeria, one of the most underappreciated is its status as an English-speaking country. In a world where language is both a barrier and a bridge, Nigeria’s colonial past, though much fraught with exploitation, left behind a linguistic asset that continues to shape the nation’s trajectory. Nestled among French-speaking neighbors like Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, Nigeria could easily have been another Francophone nation, altering the course of millions of lives. But fate had other plans.

If history had taken a slightly different turn, Nigeria might have been a French colony. The Scramble for Africa in the late 19th century saw European powers carve up the continent with little regard for ethnic or linguistic divisions. The British and French, in particular, engaged in an unspoken rivalry over West Africa. As I went into details in my soon-to-be published book on ancient African kingdoms, while France secured vast territories in the region, Britain claimed a handful of strategic locations, including Lagos in 1861 and, later, the entire area that would become Nigeria in 1914. The result? Nigeria remained in the British sphere, and English became its official language.

This stroke of luck had lasting consequences. Had the French taken control, Nigeria would be part of the Francophone world today, and its people would be speaking a language that, while important, does not hold the same global weight as English. Consider the economic disparity between Anglophone and Francophone Africa. Countries like Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, which also inherited English, often have higher GDPs and stronger international business ties than their French-speaking counterparts. English has granted Nigeria access to global commerce, diplomacy, and education in ways that Francophone nations struggle to match, especially with the exploitative nature of France.

For millions of Nigerians, English is not just a language, it is a ticket to the world. In an era where globalization has made migration and remote work more accessible, language is often the deciding factor between opportunity and limitation.

Take, for instance, the wave of Nigerian professionals migrating to English-speaking countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. As flawed as it is, many are able to ace IELTS because of the advantage they got from school. Many foreign schools only need to see that you passed English in WAEC, and admission is yours. Many arrive in these countries and integrate seamlessly into the workforce because they do not face a language barrier. Compare this to migrants from Francophone Africa, who often need to take years of language courses before they qualify. A Nigerian with “Nepa has taken light” English can still move to the U.S. and figure things out. I came across a post by Charles about a British politician calling for the deportation of Polish immigrants who don’t speak English. That’s one issue most Nigerians who can afford to migrate to the King’s land won’t have to worry about.

In Canada, where immigration policies heavily favor English and French speakers, Nigerians have surged in numbers, consistently ranking among the top groups of new immigrants. Recently, as the economy crumbled, tens of thousands of Nigerians have become permanent residents in Canada, many taking advantage of their English proficiency to secure jobs, education, and business opportunities.

Even in non-English-speaking developed nations, fluency in English provides an edge. Germany, China, Japan, and Scandinavian countries frequently offer university courses in English to attract international students. This means that a Nigerian student can study engineering in Berlin or medicine in Sweden without needing to master German or Swedish beforehand. French-speaking Africans do not have the same privilege, often needing to learn an additional language before they can access such opportunities.

Beyond migration, English is the language of the internet, technology, and international trade. A staggering 58% of all websites are in English, making it the dominant language of online communication. This means that Nigerian entrepreneurs, freelancers, and students have access to a vast reservoir of knowledge and economic opportunities that many others do not.

Consider the booming Nigerian tech industry. Nigerian software developers and tech startups frequently work with clients from the United States and Europe. The fact that they speak English gives them a direct pipeline to Silicon Valley and London’s financial sector, whereas their Francophone counterparts often face hurdles in breaking into these markets. In his recent interview, Iyin Aboyeji, who is a founder of at least two unicorns said if he ever becomes president, he will concentrate all his energies on getting Nigerian youths into tech jobs from across the globe. He says it is a comparative advantage we just do not know how lucrative it can be. It is not an idea without flaws but it’s a remarkable pointer to the vast opportunities Nigerians have due to their official language of English. Even on a smaller scale, English-speaking Nigerian freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr earn more and secure better contracts than many of their French-speaking counterparts simply because of the larger English-speaking client base.

The advantage of English is often invisible to those who have it. Nigerians may complain about economic struggles, governance issues, and social challenges, but few acknowledge how their ability to communicate in the world’s dominant language sets them apart. Countries like Rwanda and Gabon are switching from French to English as their official language to keep up with the modern world. Meanwhile, we were born into it.

Yet, because English was handed down as part of a colonial legacy, it is often taken for granted. Even within Africa, English-speaking countries tend to have more dynamic economies and stronger global ties than their Francophone peers. South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya lead the continent in tech and finance, while French-speaking countries lag behind in attracting foreign investment and international trade.

Had Nigeria been a French-speaking nation, the pathways to migration, international business, and global influence would have been more challenging. Many of the Nigerian professionals thriving in Canada and the UK today might have found themselves confined to a smaller Francophone job market. The Nigerian tech industry, currently attracting billions in investment, might have been less connected to Silicon Valley. Even Nollywood, Nigeria’s thriving film industry, benefits from an English-speaking audience that stretches from Africa to the Caribbean to the United States.

It is easy to lament Nigeria’s challenges, but sometimes, recognizing our hidden strengths provides a new perspective. English is not just a language; it is an advantage that opens doors in education, business, and global influence. While Nigerians may complain about various systemic issues (and before you call me a hypocrite, I acknowledge that I also complain), yet the ability to communicate in the world’s lingua franca is a privilege that should not be overlooked.

As young Nigerians navigates the 21st century, it’s not a terrible idea for them to leverage this advantage even further. For me, we must place emphasis on strengthening English literacy to maximize global opportunities. All these ‘English is not a test of intelligence’ is wash. In a world where language defines destiny, Nigeria’s luck in inheriting English has been nothing short of a historical blessing for those who recognize it.