Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has said that Nigeria is not suffering primarily from poverty or illiteracy but crass materialism.

According to her, crass materialism is driven by the devaluation of meaningful societal values.

Adichie disclosed this when she appeared on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, during which she promoted her new novel, "Dream Count."

She said, “You read about 1960s Nigeria, and it wasn’t perfect, but you felt that people value things that mattered more. I think there’s a kind of crass materialism that we’ve kind of embraced. So inside of that poverty, there’s just a slightly crazed sort of value for material things. But I don’t think that comes necessarily from poverty. We’ve lost the way in some ways.”

She argued that material wealth has become the overriding metric of success, overshadowing intellectual pursuit, service, and integrity, and that this shift is actively encouraged by the tone set at the top.

“Leadership sets the tone. If we had leadership that valued certain things, things would change. So I really think, in the end, that leadership makes a huge difference, even in the midst of poverty.”

Pushing back against the stereotype that Nigerians are not literate or lack a reading culture, Adichie pointed instead to economic barriers and broader global trends in publishing and education.

“I’m going to disagree with you saying that Nigerians are not literate. That is the suggestion. We don’t buy books. Reading culture, that’s what I’m talking about. This is true, yes and no. I think it’s also about books being affordable and available,” she said.

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She recounted a past book signing event in Nigeria, saying the experience left her deeply moved by the enthusiasm of young Nigerians.

“There’s a reading community here. I did a signing the last time I was home, and it was incredible, and especially young people. I was, honestly… because like you, I would think when Nigerians don’t read, how do we get them reading?

“But I saw all of these young, very, very enthusiastic people. We have book clubs, but we can’t have them. But also, I think that the reading culture problem isn’t a particularly Nigerian one.”

ASA