During a recent appearance on the Drink Champs podcast hosted by N.O.R.E and DJ EFN, Senegalese-American singer Akon praised Nigerians, calling them arguably the "smartest people" in the world.

He mentioned that Nigeria has been producing a significant number of billionaires, surpassing any other country globally.

However, Akon also acknowledged that there are a few "bad apples" who have contributed to tarnishing the country's image. He emphasized that despite the presence of these individuals, Nigerians' intelligence is undeniable, and they possess an exceptional level of intelligence.

suggested that some of these "bad apples" may have misdirected their intelligence, leading to negative outcomes.

“If they were to gear that towards something more positive or productive… Because the ones that did, there’s more billionaires being made in Nigeria than anywhere in the world.”