By Peter Omopo
A heated immigration debate on social media escalated into a widely followed English proficiency contest between a Nigerian man and a British citizen, drawing thousands of viewers and sparking a wave of online reactions.
Ifedayo Johnson, a UK-based Nigerian from Oyo State, lost narrowly to a British X user identified as Angantýr (@BasedNorthmathr) in an English language challenge conducted using the EFSET quiz platform. Johnson scored 79, while his British opponent emerged victorious with a score of 83.
The contest, which took place in separate X (formerly Twitter) Spaces on Sunday, was watched live by over 5,000 users. It stemmed from an earlier post by Angantýr, who claimed that the UK care sector had become “critically dependent on Nigerians who barely speak English,” sparking outrage among Nigerian users.
“Why did we make our care sector critically dependent on Nigerians who barely speak English and each bring with them three dependents?” Angantýr wrote, prompting Johnson to respond.
Challenging the comment, Johnson (@Ifedayo_Jimcruz) publicly proposed a full-scale English proficiency face-off, involving reading, writing, speaking, and listening components.
“If your overall score is higher than mine, I’ll quietly pack my bags and leave this country within 24 hours,” Johnson declared in a tweet. “But if I score higher, you’ll keep your mouth shut and never again question or disrespect the English Language skills of any Nigerian.”
Following the results, social media erupted with mixed reactions—some praising Johnson’s courage and near-equal performance, while others criticized the loss given the high stakes he had set.
The incident continues to generate debate online about immigration, racial stereotypes, and the role of social media in shaping national narratives.
