Omoyele Sowore knows exactly what he’s doing — not out of conviction or genuine ideological drive, but as a calculated effort to sustain the image he has carefully built over the years. He understands that the stream of funding from certain international organisations and advocacy groups depends on his ability to remain visible and loud in Nigeria’s political space. Having positioned himself as a champion of democracy and human rights, he continues to draw attention — and by extension, financial support — from institutions that thrive on narratives of state repression and civic struggle in Africa.
Organisations that typically fund such ventures include press freedom groups, democracy and governance foundations, and human rights watchdogs based in North America and Europe. These bodies often provide grants for activities framed as civic enlightenment, media independence, or grassroots mobilisation. Sowore has mastered the art of speaking the language that resonates with them — words like resistance, liberation, and citizen awakening. Yet behind the slogans, his activism increasingly resembles a performance designed to justify the inflow of donor funds rather than a sincere crusade for reform.
Over the years, Sowore has been associated with or has helped organise protests such as the #RevolutionNow movement, the End Bad Governance campaign, and several other demonstrations calling for “Days of Rage”. Each episode garners headlines, sparks fleeting social media fervor, and reinforces his standing as a dissident figure — the kind that international funders like to identify with. But beyond the noise, there is little in terms of structured engagement or measurable transformation.
What emerges, sadly, is a brand of activism that has become a livelihood. It thrives on outrage and spectacle rather than on disciplined organization or lasting policy influence. His theatrics may keep him in the headlines and his accounts credited, but they do little to move Nigeria closer to the ideals he claims to defend. The real heroes of reform are those who work quietly, without foreign sponsorship or self-promotion — Nigerians who labor daily for change without needing to perform it.
Adefemiwa is a global Nigerian, public communicator, and advocate for good governance. He is the author of Remote Working From Africa: A Practical Guide. He writes from New York, United States, and can be reached at jerome.adefemiwa@gmail.com
