Bobrisky appears at The New Media Citizens and Governance Conference,despite the boycott of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmed.Bobrisky then went on to speak about his rise on social media.Meanwhile Bashir Ahmed and Alder Consulting, a Nigerian business and marketing consulting firm, came under fire on Wednesday after both announced their withdrawal from the social media conference due to its inclusion of Idris Okuneye, more popularly known as Bobrisky,the
Nigerian Barbie doll.
The New Media Citizens and Governance Conference, organized by Enough is Enough Nigeria, began on Wednesday in Abuja. According to the conference website, Bobrisky, who rose to fame in Nigeria from his viral and unusual use of Snapchat, is slated to speak on a Thursday session titled Engagement Unusual: Unconventional Uses of New Media.
Upon learning that Bobrisky, a flamboyant social media personality popularly known as “Africa’s First Male Barbie” , was invited to speak at the conference, a Twitter user implored the president’s aide to withdraw from the conference.
“I couldn’t picture you on the same panel with that idiot Bobrisky. Please don’t attend this conference,” he tweeted to Mr. Ahmad, to which he replied, “Okay, I will do that for you, NVM [never mind].” Ahmed shortly thereafter released a statement on his Twitter page formally announcing his withdrawal from the conference without giving reason for doing so.
Subomi Plumptre, a member of Alder Consulting’s Executive Committee, and social media influencer soon followed suit and refused to attend the conference. The consulting group released a statement explaining that the company had not been informed that Bobrisky would be included on the panel and formally withdrew from the conference.
According to a statement from Alder Consulting, Bobrisky’s presence would “sensationalize” and “radicalize” the event, which should “otherwise be a serious discourse on new approaches to media engagement.”
Watch the video below as the Nigerian Barbie doll speaks on his rise on social media and among Nigerian youths.