Why Is It So Hard to Believe a Woman Built Lagos Life Successfully?

1 / 11

Shalom Rayhamen’s virtual game, Lagos Life, has drawn attention for turning familiar Lagos experiences into a product that thousands of people want to play. Critics are free to question its design, technology and business model, but some reactions go beyond assessing the game itself. The debate has included claims that the game is too basic or that AI means its creator did little work. Yet AI is a tool, not a replacement for the ideas, choices, launch strategy and cultural understanding needed to make a product connect with users. Questions about the game’s reported $1 billion valuation are valid, especially after an alleged $100,000 purchase offer. But calling its creator a fraud simply for placing a high value on her work reflects a wider pattern: women are often encouraged to be ambitious, then criticised when they confidently claim ownership of their success. Lagos Life may not be beyond criticism, but its popularity raises a fair question: why are some people so determined to find another explanation when a woman builds something that works?

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.