It was break time at Unity Secondary School in Lagos, and the sun was blazing. Under the big mango tree beside the school field, four friends, Tunde, Ada, Yusuf, and Zainab, gathered with their lunch packs, ready to settle the greatest debate of all time.
“Nigerian Jollof is the best in the world!” Tunde declared proudly, scooping a spoonful into his mouth.
Ada rolled her eyes. “Please! Ghanaian Jollof tastes better. Nigerian Jollof is too spicy.”
Yusuf and Zainab burst into laughter.
“Here we go again,” Yusuf said. “Jollof wars part 100.”
Zainab shook her head and smiled. “You people never agree. But have you ever stopped to ask, which of these are facts and which are just opinions?”
The others looked at her, confused.
Zainab Explains
Zainab, who was known in class for being a bookworm, pulled out a small notepad from her school bag. “Let me break it down for you. If you understand the difference between a fact and an opinion, you’ll stop wasting energy arguing about things that can’t be proven.”
What Is a Fact?
“A fact is something that is true for everyone, and can be proven with evidence,” Zainab explained.
She wrote in her notepad:
‘Rice is the main ingredient in Jollof rice.’
“That’s a fact,” she said. “We can all agree on it. Whether you’re in Nigeria, Ghana, or Senegal, Jollof is made with rice. No one can argue that.”
Tunde nodded. “Okay, that makes sense.”
What Is an Opinion?
“Now,” Zainab continued, “listen to this statement:
‘Nigerian Jollof tastes better than Ghanaian Jollof.’
“That’s an opinion. You might think Nigerian Jollof is better, but Ada prefers Ghanaian. It’s based on taste, which is personal. You can’t prove it’s true for everyone.”
Ada smiled. “I like how you explained that.”
Putting It to the Test
Yusuf jumped in. “Let’s try a few. You tell us if it’s a fact or an opinion.”
He cleared his throat:
- Lagos is one of the largest cities in Africa.
- Suya is too spicy.
- The Nigerian flag is green and white.
- Fufu tastes weird.
“Easy!” said Tunde.
“1 is a fact. Lagos is massive. 2 is an opinion, some like spicy, some don’t. 3 is a fact, everyone can see the flag. 4 is an opinion. It depends on who’s eating it.”
“Exactly!” Zainab beamed. “You guys are getting it.”
Why This Matters
“So,” Ada said thoughtfully, “most of our arguments are about opinions, not facts?”
“Exactly,” Zainab nodded. “People fight, insult each other online, and even stop talking to friends because they think their opinion is the only truth. But once you understand the difference, you can have better conversations.”
How to Tell the Difference
Zainab shared a simple trick:
- Can it be proven? ✔️ = Fact
- Is it based on feelings or taste? 💬 = Opinion
The Final Scoop
In the end, the friends all agreed on one thing: they loved Jollof, no matter where it came from.
“Let’s just eat and agree that we’re all hungry Nigerians,” Yusuf joked, digging into his food.
They all laughed, and for once, the Jollof war ended in peace, thanks to a simple lesson about facts and opinions.
✅ Key Takeaways
- Facts are backed by evidence and can be proven.
- Opinions are based on personal feelings, taste, or belief.
- Knowing the difference helps us avoid arguments and respect each other’s views.