Bababunmi Agbebi
’30-Day Rant Challenge!’, The nationwide online outcry began after a video went viral on March 16, featuring Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In the video, Raye urged fellow young Nigerians to start a “30-Day Rant Challenge” to express their frustration with the country’s tough economic situation.
It started when Raye, who is serving in Lagos, shared her feelings in a widely shared video on her Instagram page. She spoke about how Nigeria’s rising cost of living made her monthly NYSC allowance of N33,000 insufficient to cover basic necessities.
A day after her viral video, in which she called President Bola Tinubu a ‘terrible’ leader, Raye expressed concerns for her safety, claiming she had received threats, encouraging Nigerians to start an online protest against any questionable government actions.
Nigerian youths have since began expressing their frustration online, using the hashtag “30-Day Rant Challenge.
Across TikTok, individuals are sharing raw, emotional videos of their struggles, posting daily for 30 days straight.
What started as an outlet for personal frustration has transformed into a collective movement, amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens who feel ignored.
Participants believe that by flooding social media with their grievances, they can force leaders to acknowledge the worsening state of the nation.
So far, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian government. However, the Federal government has paid the new wage of N77,000 to Corp members but there are still fears that authorities may attempt to suppress the movement if it gains too much traction. Some fear that restrictions on TikTok could follow if the government perceives the challenge as a threat.
This is coming seven months after the nationwide protests against bad governance from August 1-10, 2024.
The question is: Is this a Digital Uprising or Just Another Online Trend? Only time will tell
