The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, says he has begun taking English lessons to improve his communication skills following past criticism of his spoken English.
Akinsanya disclosed this recently while addressing Nollywood actor Adams Kehinde, popularly known as Lege Miami, and other attendees at a rally organised in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Speaking in Yoruba, the transport union leader admitted that he and Lege Miami were not fluent in English but said he was making efforts to improve.
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“Neither of us speaks English fluently, so I am taking classes to improve. I travel around the world. I am a citizen of America,” he said.
He also recounted an experience at an immigration checkpoint, where he said he insisted that he was returning home when asked how long he intended to stay in the United States.
Akinsanya said his children, who live in the US, were more proficient in English and had established careers as nurses, a doctor and an engineer.
“My children can speak better than me. My children in the US are nurses, a doctor and an engineer,” he said.
He added that he sometimes handed the microphone to his children when he struggled to communicate in English.
“If I get somewhere and cannot speak English well, I will give the microphone to one of my children,” he said.
His comments have attracted attention on social media, particularly against the backdrop of previous criticism of his spoken English.
In April 2025, Akinsanya faced ridicule after pronouncing the word ‘kudos’ as ‘kundusi’ while praising members of the union in Abuja.
Responding to the criticism at the time, he acknowledged his limited formal education but dismissed suggestions that his English proficiency defined his intelligence.
“Grammar won't finish Nigeria. I might not understand the English language, but I understand Yoruba,” he had said.
He also challenged his critics to measure their achievements against those of his children, whom he said were citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom.
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