Internet humour beyond jokes: The perplexity of Nigeria’s educational system

Abstract

Cartoons have become a powerful tool for social commentary in the 21st century, particularly in Nigeria. This new global internet sensation is a revolutionary tool in the Nigerian digital space employed in political, social, and economic criticism. This research investigates how internet humour exposes the complexities and contradictions within Nigeria’s educational system, highlighting corruption, poor funding, teacher quality, and governance issues that affect education quality and access. It admits that while humour on the internet often appears casual, it exposes a critical insight into the educational challenges and societal perceptions in Nigeria. Drawing from the Multimodal Metaphor Theory, the study analyses twenty online satirical cartoon texts. It finds that internet humour serves as a powerful outlet for releasing pent-up emotions among students, teachers, and stakeholders as well as to voice concerns, challenge narratives, and advocate for reforms. This work contributes to digital humanities and cultural studies, highlighting the importance of leveraging internet humour for critical thinking and positive change. The study concludes that internet humour is a valuable lens for understanding the perplexities of Nigeria's educational system. Beyond entertainment, such humour reflects societal critiques and calls for reform. It underscores the need to address systemic challenges to improve education quality and restore public trust. Nigerian internet comedy and cartoons offer a continual yet humorous critique of the country's educational system, providing a forum for socio-political discussion and understanding of the implications conveyed by these humorous realities.