The hardworking and resilient spirit that once defined a Nigerian youth is gradually fading away. Excelling in all circumstances was deeply entrenched in the psyche of Nigerian youths. So, the popular platitude, “Naija no dey carry last,” was absolutely deserving. Unfortunately, this attribute seems to be declining as the dependence on giveaways for survival, or as a side hustle, is becoming a norm amongst the youths. The man who just withdrew money from the ATM is engaged by young boys, who tell him, “Oga, Abeg show us love.” The woman walking in the street is approached by area boys telling her, “Madam, find something for boys nah.” The stories of corporate beggars who rely on giveaway from their unsuspecting victims have become a recurring decimal in the country. Recently, this unruly behaviour has metamorphosed from just an offline affair and has now been transported into the digital space. The social media is breeding a new generation of youthful panhandlers who ask strangers especially celebrities for giveaway to meet immediate and other needs. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines giveaway as something given away free.[1] The youths inclination towards online freebies is regrettably skyrocketing since it is done with relative anonymity, thereby eliminating or reducing the disgrace inherent in the modified public begging. The spike in financial and material giveaways on facebook, twitter, instagram, and other social media platforms is alarming. Companies, celebrities, influencers, affluent individuals, political aspirants, and public figures now utilize various forms of giveaways to reach their preferred audience and increase their popularity. However, there are opinions that giveaways aren’t necessarily born out of compassion towards the plight of the people, but are acts of disguised tokenism. The Cambridge Business English Dictionary defines tokenism as an act of doing something only to show that you are following rules or doing what is expected or seen to be fair and not because you really believe it is the right thing to do.[2] Many celebrities have complained about the incessant demands from their fans for one financial assistance or another. Sometimes, when these demands are not met, palpable verbal abuse and virtual fisticuffs usually ensue due to the perceived celebrity’s misanthropy and lack of empathy by not obliging the requests. Hence, some celebrities and companies, yielding to pressure or caressing their popularity, have rendered financial and non-financial help, not because they deemed it necessary but because they want to appease their audience and be in their good books. The adage “a beggar has no choice,” does not apply to these youths. Not only are they specific in their demands, they also have an absurd mentality of entitlement which is evident when one declines their demands. While there is nothing particularly wrong with one receiving giveaways, the reliance of the youths on freebies for financial emancipation and the consequences of this wrong ideology should worry every well-meaning Nigerian. A proper understanding of the factors which have amplified this distasteful attitude among our youths is key towards curtailing this rising menace. Youths reliance on giveaways has been a useful tool for the political class who deliberately perpetuate economic hardship while looting the nation’s wealth, only to allow the masses to scramble and survive on crumbs. Going by World Bank statistics, 40 percent of the total population, or almost 83 million people, live below the country’s poverty line of 137,430 naira per year.[3] On February 14, 2019, The Cable, quoting Brookings institution, reported that 91.16 million Nigerians are living below a dollar a year, adding that six people fall into poverty every minute.[4] Having felt the scourge of hunger and poverty, many youths are left with no option than to be answerable to politicians who perform the common ritual of giveaways in monetary or non-monetary forms, a condition that could be likened to Stockholm syndrome. Little wonder why this act is usually amplified during elections in the country. A corrupt politician who has awfully failed in serving his people would capriciously become the people’s favourite once he hands out some cash or other material items to them. Alas poverty! After elections, these politicians disappear into thin air while the people continue to wallow in abject poverty. Having tested the crumbs from these selfish politicians, some youths would resort to social media to engage them and demand for more crumbs. Economic misery is therefore a key enabler of these social media giveaways. One could say that unscrupulous social media giveaways have become the norm owing to the successful antecedents of political giveaways.[5] The moral decadence in the country has contributed to this sad development. We are gradually losing our cultural and moral values which helped create a sane society. Emphasis is now laid on making money regardless of the source. The desperation in the hearts of the youths to get money has propelled many to shamelessly demand for giveaways at any given opportunity. Before now, the thought of begging and being at someone’s mercy for survival, and the shame inherent in it, spurred the older generation into hardwork. Not that there were no beggars during that time, but there was no pride in begging as one could see the shame and guilt written all over the beggars’ faces. Nowadays, it seems like the economic meltdown in the country has melted away the shame of begging. Aside the lack of shame, many youths are driven by an insatiable desire for money. Many persons jostling for giveaways on social media aren’t financially broke, rather they are discontent humans. How could someone who has more than half a million naira be hustling for one thousand naira giveaway? Some dissatisfied youths have taken the pursuance of giveaways as a side hustle just because of their discontentment. This giveaway trend is not unconnected to the rate of unemployment in the country. According to a report on Bloomberg, Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 33.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020.[6] Owing to unemployment, many youths including graduates, have indulged in dubious and demeaning acts just to put food on their table. This