Proudly Nigerian!
There are too many positive stories about Nigerians around the world that if you face me with that “Nigerians are bad” rhetoric I will instantly classify you either as a racist or sadist.
I used to be very foolish. In fact, stupid! When I met other nationals and they confronted me with the “Nigerians are terrible” pick up line, I’d usually begin to explain how they’re partially right and I am totally different. No! Not anymore!!!!
I met a Zimbabwean lady in London and we got talking. After a few days she asked me “where are you originally from?” I told her “Nigeria”. Then she goes, “oh wow…you must be a very different one”. I asked her, “how do you mean?” She said she’s heard a lot of very scary stories about Nigerians. After that moment, her attitude drifted away from the excitement about getting to know me and the great ideas we were sharing, to now becoming an investigative journalist. “So what are you doing in London? Are you a resident or visitor? Do you have other friends here in the UK?” …and so on. I wasn’t ready to start proving myself as a good person to anyone. I just told her straight, see if you have reservations about Nigerians, there’s no point trying to be my friend.” I’m not ready to play the white sheep role. I blocked her on WhatsApp thereafter.
Despite all of our troubles and challenges, this country still has some of the greatest human beings and greatest potentials in the world. I’m not trying to sound optimistic, Nigeria is truly a beautiful and blessed country.
I’m from Nigeria, and I’m very proud to be. You’ll hear of bad stories about every nationality of the world, maybe Nigeria has got some more of those stories. But l have more things to be proud of as regards where I’m from than to be ashamed of. If you hate Nigeria or Nigerians, know it that from the bottom of my heart I have no love for you.
