Mr Unwise Criticises VDM’s School Wall Painting, Says Sowore Is a Better Role Model for Children

Nigerian social commentator and media personality Oriretan Motilayo Honour, popularly known as Mr Unwise, has criticised the painting of controversial social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) on a school wall, arguing that Omoyele Sowore would be a more suitable role model for pupils.

Honour made his position known in a post in which he compared the school wall painting of VDM with that of Sowore, noting that Sowore’s image was painted on the exterior side of the school wall.

He argued that the location of the paintings mattered, insisting that Sowore’s public record made him a more appropriate figure for children to learn about.

According to Mr Unwise, Sowore’s history as an activist and public figure makes him a suitable subject for educational recognition, while he questioned whether VDM’s public conduct was appropriate for young pupils to emulate.

He also raised concerns about the possible influence of celebrities and social media personalities on children, citing issues such as body piercings, tattoos, hairstyles and other forms of self-expression that he believes may conflict with school expectations.

Mr Unwise called on the Ministry of Education to investigate the decision to paint VDM’s image on the school wall, urging authorities to either remove the painting or clean the entire wall.

He further called for an investigation into whoever approved the artwork, arguing that the decision could have implications for the values communicated to pupils in the school environment.

His comments have brought renewed attention to the debate over the public figures celebrated in educational spaces and the standards schools should consider when selecting individuals to portray.

The debate also raises questions about how schools can recognise public figures while balancing educational value, public conduct, freedom of expression and the need to provide children with positive examples.

However, Honour’s comments represent his personal assessment of the two public figures. The suitability of either individual as a role model remains a matter for public discussion, and his allegations about their conduct should not be treated as independently established facts.