Lets rescue our global perception
I wouldn’t have blogged today, if not that I discovered a mail in my box today. A mail that shocked me once again with the reality of how we are percieved as Nigerians. Not that there are not many events in a normal day that return us to this self same reality, but it certainly doesn’t happen like that everyday.
I remember having a discussion with a friend who told me his own gory story of how he used to be a very patriotic Nigerian, not as though he wasn’t anymore, but he has balanced it with a lot more wisdom, seeing that it just doesn’t help. He told me of times when he’ll travel out of Nigeria, practically wearing a Nigerian football jersey, he told me of how many times he had been stopped at the immigration of many countries for no other reason other than the fact than that he was a Nigerian. He told me of one occassion when an officer told him that he would surely find something wrong with him? Can you imagine?? At that time he was a UN official! Let’s not deceive ourselves friends, our corrupt country colleagues spoil beyond their names, they give us perceptions that make us difficult to relate with. I can easily remember times at the borders of different countries as well, when being a Procter and Gamble employee or a Virgin employee meant more than being a Nigerian, isn’t that sad?
So what happened today that flagged up my passion for the pen? I applied for a West African training consultant opportunity for a company in the US, last week and only checked my box today to see their response today. They felt I was very qualified, but would need me to validate myself. They said the volume of credit card frauds that come from Nigeria, makes them weary of doing business with Nigerians! Can you beat that? The interesting thing is, if it were you or I on the other side, we would have similar perspectives, we can’t blame them.
What we need to do, is to put our own house in order. To continue our fight and struggle against scam. We need to move faster in our drive to creating alternatives for these jobless youths side by side with our clamour to get the antiscam bill signed. We need to shine our light! Darkness they say is merely the absence of light, and the only contribution needed from good for evil to prevail is silence. We must not be silent, we must fight this evil at home and abroad, we must ensure that the world knows that there are Nigerians that value and have integrity.
I can’t imagine how many legitimate business proposals get deleted on the merit of these ill meaning few. I can’t imagine how many good intentions have been coloured by the tons of scams that these yahoo boys generate. The fight against crime is not a fight against individuals it’s a fight for the expression of genuine talents.
It’s a war friends, we need to understand the dynamics, and strategically progress.
Regards
Adeolu
Hello. I am 
Cheers to your sentiment! It’s an uphill battle, but it’s nice to know that I am not alone in the fight.
We admit that the task is a very huge one, but are not also confused about the end: order.
The distance between “now” and “then” is where we all need to stand, as role models and mentors to other young people in the various spheres that we dwell in. I actually believe that this darkness is an opportunity for little lights to sharpen their intensity for the days ahead.
When (not “if”) we finally get to the place called “there”, we will teach others how to move from one sad point to the other point of glory. But our job is cut out for us, maybe one “constituency” or “circle of influence” at a time.
So true.
Adeolu,
Fraud and cyber crime is a thing that really needs to be checkmate and this has to be properly done in a right way. The yoruba do say and I quote “Ile la tin ko eso re ode” I was a a cyber cafe and I have to print out a document unknowing to staff he gave me another mans mail. What do I read. A list of persons credit card numbers and other pins attached to it” in conclussiop the sender said “do not use your direct address to order for things”. It may interest you to know that some parent also encourage their wards to go into this business. then what is the future of such youth when they grow up?
this piece by you is so true and its something we all have to fight. it is a good fight and can only be done with the help of the Holy ghost. we need to preach the good news to the yahoo boys and that it there is a better way of making it and their minds can produce much more than they think. the first step is the desire to do it right and from there you’ll begin to see the opportunities. when i decided years ago i wanted to be a banker consciously or unconsciously everything i saw and read was related to banking. so you see it is possible. many people have gone legit and much more are on the verge of doing same. lets all who visit this site say a prayer daily for such brothers.
I enjoy what one ‘Mike’ is making these dumb ‘yahoo boys’ go through on his web site http://www.419eater.com .He practically eats them up!.Twists and twirl them around, atimes collecting thier scam money and giving it to charity.Making them do the unthinkable.Check out the web site.You will get to know the mind ( and pity) a scammer.