Written By: Eric Namso

In Nigeria, x(formerly twitter) social media has sparked a fresh debate—Lapo babies vs Nepo babies. It’s more than a meme. It’s a reflection of the country’s brutal class divide, where your background often decides your chances.

While “Nepo babies” enjoy access, capital, and connections from birth, “Lapo babies” must hustle their way from the bottom up, often starting with nothing but hope.

This article explores these two contrasting realities, what they mean for merit, opportunity, and youth culture—and why understanding the gap matters now more than ever.

Who Is a Nepo Baby?

Nepo babies are born into privilege. Their parents are governors, CEOs, commissioners, diplomats, or influential elites. From childhood, they attend the best schools, travel widely, and gain early exposure to opportunities most can only dream of. Their family names open doors. Their struggles are padded with soft landings.

This doesn’t mean they don’t work hard—but it does mean they rarely start from zero. Their connections, even when unspoken, smoothen the path. A cousin in the oil sector. An aunt who can fund a business. A father with a slot in a government agency. These are real advantages, even if never publicly acknowledged.

Who Is a Lapo Baby?

On the other side of the coin are the Lapo babies—those born into lower-income or financially struggling households. The name “Lapo” is inspired by the microfinance bank many rely on to fund small ventures. These children attend public schools, grow up in shared apartments, and face economic pressure from a young age.

Aside from the inspired name by the microfinance bank, netizens have come up with catchy phrases to define the situation: Lack of Access, Privilege and Opportunity

Their realities are built on sacrifice. They save up to pay WAEC fees, hustle to get a phone for online classes, and sometimes have to choose between eating and printing a CV. They have no connections to call on. For every step they take forward, there’s another challenge pulling them back.

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

Why the Conversation Matters

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

This isn’t about envy—it’s about equity. In a country where over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty, we can’t pretend everyone’s starting line is the same. The viral terms “nepo baby” and “lapo baby” are just shorthand for deeper systemic issues: nepotism, inequality, class privilege, and unequal access to opportunity.

Highlighting the gap isn’t about shaming privilege—it’s about demanding fairness. It’s about asking why two youths of equal talent can have such drastically different outcomes just because of where or how they were born.

What It Feels Like to Be a Lapo Baby

Being a lapo baby often means carrying your family’s hope on your shoulders. You're expected to “make it” and lift everyone else, with zero inheritance or backup. You’re your own CV, recommendation letter, and bank account.

Every win feels hard-earned: the job gotten through five rejections, the scholarship that took three years, the small business launched after selling your phone. You're competing with people who have had coaching classes since age 10, internships at 16, and a laptop before they could spell their surname.

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

The Myth of Meritocracy

Nigeria often celebrates “hard work” as the key to success, but that message can be misleading. Yes, hard work matters. But in a country where access is gatekept by who you know, merit alone rarely pays the bills.

A brilliant young person from Mushin might lose out on a role because someone from Ikoyi got in through a family name. This doesn’t make the latter unworthy—but it shows how deeply systemic inequality affects outcomes.

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

It’s easy to demonise privilege, but not all nepo babies are villains. Some feel pressure to live up to expectations or match their parent’s achievements. Some face imposter syndrome, wondering if their success is truly their own. But here’s the thing—privilege doesn’t cancel talent. It just gives it a safer launchpad.

However, there’s a thin line between using your privilege and hoarding opportunities. When positions, contracts, or internships are only passed within an inner circle, it locks others out of even trying.

Bridging the Gap: What Needs to Happen

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

To truly level the field, we must go beyond online debates and memes. Nigeria needs structural reforms that redistribute opportunity. Here are some ways to start:

• Open internships: Government and private firms must make early career roles open to all—not just children of executives.

• Support microfinance with mentorship: Lapo loans help, but pairing them with mentorship can ensure small businesses survive.

• Make education count: Skill-based education, scholarships, and subsidised digital access can help Lapo babies scale faster.

• Name the networks: Acknowledge that networks matter—and create spaces where underrepresented youths can build them too.

A New Definition of Success

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

What we must learn is this: true success isn’t only climbing the ladder—it’s holding it steady for the next person. Whether you’re a lapo or nepo baby, the question is what you do with your position. Do you pull others up, or do you shut the gate once you’re in?

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

In a nation where everyone is trying to “blow,” we must also ask—who gets the loudest mic, and why?

Many top creators on X have weighed in on the lapo baby vs nepo baby conversation. While some criticise those born into wealth and privilege, others argue that those without such advantages must find a way to rise regardless. A few are taking it further—helping bridge the gap by providing gadgets, mentorship, or soft landing opportunities for the less privileged.

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

Popular singer Adekunle Gold even shared a throwback photo from 2005, capturing his lapo baby era—sitting on a wooden bench outside, a long way from the glamour he’s known for today. His story reminds us: being born without a silver or golden spoon doesn’t mean you’re meant to stay there. You can climb out, even if slowly.

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

One X influencer said, “The least a lapo baby can do is excel in academics.” It may sound harsh, but it holds truth—when you lack privilege, performance becomes your best leverage. Others have shared memories from NYSC camp, where they saw glaring social differences and chose to assist struggling friends. These small acts of solidarity matter.

Yes, life isn't fair. Inequality will always be part of the story. But that’s exactly why we must help each other up. Whether you're a lapo or nepo baby, if you’ve crossed a bridge, build another behind you.

Photo Credit: X (Twitter)

Let’s thrive together. Let’s show up for each other. That’s how we soften a hard world.

Conclusion: We All Have a Role

This isn’t a war. It’s a wake-up call. Nigeria has a population of over 200 million—we can't afford to build a future for just the top 1%. Lapo babies deserve more than just resilience stories. They deserve access. And nepo babies, too, have a chance to be allies in rewriting the narrative.

Let’s normalise both talent and fairness. Let’s build a country where success is earned—not inherited.

Written By: Eric Namso