Growing up in Nigeria, there were two labels every student understood. The “Efiko” was the serious student – the one who studied, asked questions, understood concepts, and strived to be better. The “olodo” represented the opposite – the person who avoided learning, looked for shortcuts, and hoped to somehow get by without doing the required work.
Interestingly, as artificial intelligence transforms the world of work, these two labels may become even more relevant. There is a growing concern that AI will make people lazy, less serious, and less intelligent. Teachers worry that students will no longer learn because AI can write assignments for them. Managers worry that employees will outsource their thinking and simply copy and paste AI-generated responses.
These concerns are understandable. But perhaps the real issue is not whether AI creates Efikos or Olodos. Perhaps the real issue is that AI will amplify who people already choose to become. Efikos will use AI to learn faster, think deeper, solve bigger problems, and create more value. Olodos will use AI to avoid learning, avoid thinking, and produce faster mediocrity.
This distinction is important because technology has always created both opportunities and risks. The same internet that gives a young person access to world-class knowledge also provides endless opportunities for distraction. Social media platforms have democratised information, but they have also created environments where entertainment, instant gratification, and shallow engagement often dominate.
