A Nigerian content creator, Nkese Eyo, has claimed she was used for content during a job interview session organised by TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller.
The incident happened earlier in the week after Peller posted a job opening online for a cameraman role with a monthly salary of ₦500,000.
The announcement attracted a large number of applicants, including Master’s degree holders, who showed up physically for the screening.
But Nkese, who is also a musician and creative, said what took place was not an actual interview, but a content recording session.
In a post on her X page, @nkeseitam, she wrote, “I went for Peller’s job opening with the intention to work, pitch myself, and grow. But instead, I was used for content. No actual job. No follow-up. Just part of another episode. And honestly? That’s unfair. I’m not against content creation. I am a content creator myself.”
She added that Peller made unnecessary remarks about her tribe and physical appearance.
“He asked me about my tribe and said Efik is not a tribe. He also made jokes about my body, saying I’m big and could beat him. That was unnecessary,” she said in a separate video.
The development has triggered widespread criticism online, with many social media users slamming the act as exploitative and insensitive, especially considering the unemployment crisis in the country.
In response, Peller posted a video on Instagram Saturday evening where he defended himself, saying two people were selected from the 20 applicants.
“Among the 20 people that came yesterday, we picked two persons. So, one will wait for one. If one is not available, the other will stand in for him or her. ₦500,000 naira monthly salary. I’m paying them before they start this month,” he said.
Reacting to Nkese’s video, he said, “We did a live stream. Everybody saw what we were doing. I was literally joking with you, and you picked only that part. I said I don’t know the tribe.”
Peller also questioned the backlash, saying, “Everybody is now pouring anger on me, as if I am the one that said the economy should be hard. What have I done wrong? When I asked for a Master’s degree, did I tie anybody from their house?”fo
