Nigerians abroad have debunked the notion of the inferiority of African mental acumen. They have conquered in every facet of life they have been given a chance and they continue to defy every stereotype.
For centuries, Africans have been touted as people with small brains, incapable of assimulating complex endeavors and primitive. African leaders who were installed as puppets by the colonial masters have not helped the situation, they have siphoned the wealth of the continent with the connivance of their western collaborators. The continent and its people have become beggars before the western nations who have turned them to projects they use to conjure money from among themselves in the name of charity where as much as 70 - 80% of the money raised for African charity goes into overhead. They show images of hungry kids crying to move people to donate, and when you appear in their country, they look at you with pity in light of poor children they see on television who is seeking a handout.
Before the current POTUS (2020), the story known about Nigerians was that they are fraudsters and they write letters to dupe you of your money. Even, the almighty Oprah Winfrey once carried a news feed dedicated to the Nigerian stereotype of fraudsters - The Mugu Episode in 2007. Then came the news that the current POTUS allegedly said Nigerians will come to America and will not return to their hots, that they prefer immigrants from Norway and not from shithole countries. People were compelled to look at the statistics of Nigerian immigrants in America closely. Alas! They are the best of the best among every ethnic group in America. Per capita, Nigerians, are better educated than their Chinese, German, Korean and American counterparts living in America (Fareed Zakaria Episode on February 16, 2020). Over 59% of Nigerians, 25 years above, have at least a first degree, which doubles the 33% of Americans. At least 4% of Nigerians in America have a Ph.D. against 2% of Americans. They occupy top positions in American civil society and most of them are peace-loving and hard working. In 2015, they generated nearly $40 billion in revenue, paid almost $10 billion taxes, one of the highest per capita among any ethnic group in America.
I am yet to see any facet of life that you will not find a Nigerian excelling in America or the rest of the world - movies, academia, journalism, business, music, art, science, engineering, medicine, politics, television, etc. They are everywhere, doing great things in America because of the enabling environment. Of course, there are few bad elements - these are the ones that the news media amplify and use to stereotype Nigerians - not Nigerian surgeons, psychiatrists, athletes, actors, academics, artists, lawyers, etc, who are contributing to the growth of America.
Unfortunately, the success of Nigerians has not been transferred to their home country. The country is rich with one of the largest reserves of petroleum in the world and one of the largest producers in Africa. The human capital in Nigeria is full of potential waiting to be unleashed under the right leadership at the centers. However, the political terrain is constituted by politicians who lay their pockets with the nation's wealth and most of them are poorly educated. The question remains why Nigerians have not been able to translate the success they have experienced abroad to their home country? The electoral process is rigged, and strange things happen during the election. The current administration has succeeded in closing the mouth of all opposition and the spate of violence is on the increase, especially by the dread Boko Haram. The educated and enlighted find leaving the country an easier option than staying to fight - including moi. Nigeria needs heroes who will fight with their lives - we are yet to have that, the people who remain need to grow up and stop being used by the political class.
For centuries, Africans have been touted as people with small brains, incapable of assimulating complex endeavors and primitive. African leaders who were installed as puppets by the colonial masters have not helped the situation, they have siphoned the wealth of the continent with the connivance of their western collaborators. The continent and its people have become beggars before the western nations who have turned them to projects they use to conjure money from among themselves in the name of charity where as much as 70 - 80% of the money raised for African charity goes into overhead. They show images of hungry kids crying to move people to donate, and when you appear in their country, they look at you with pity in light of poor children they see on television who is seeking a handout.
Before the current POTUS (2020), the story known about Nigerians was that they are fraudsters and they write letters to dupe you of your money. Even, the almighty Oprah Winfrey once carried a news feed dedicated to the Nigerian stereotype of fraudsters - The Mugu Episode in 2007. Then came the news that the current POTUS allegedly said Nigerians will come to America and will not return to their hots, that they prefer immigrants from Norway and not from shithole countries. People were compelled to look at the statistics of Nigerian immigrants in America closely. Alas! They are the best of the best among every ethnic group in America. Per capita, Nigerians, are better educated than their Chinese, German, Korean and American counterparts living in America (Fareed Zakaria Episode on February 16, 2020). Over 59% of Nigerians, 25 years above, have at least a first degree, which doubles the 33% of Americans. At least 4% of Nigerians in America have a Ph.D. against 2% of Americans. They occupy top positions in American civil society and most of them are peace-loving and hard working. In 2015, they generated nearly $40 billion in revenue, paid almost $10 billion taxes, one of the highest per capita among any ethnic group in America.
I am yet to see any facet of life that you will not find a Nigerian excelling in America or the rest of the world - movies, academia, journalism, business, music, art, science, engineering, medicine, politics, television, etc. They are everywhere, doing great things in America because of the enabling environment. Of course, there are few bad elements - these are the ones that the news media amplify and use to stereotype Nigerians - not Nigerian surgeons, psychiatrists, athletes, actors, academics, artists, lawyers, etc, who are contributing to the growth of America.
Unfortunately, the success of Nigerians has not been transferred to their home country. The country is rich with one of the largest reserves of petroleum in the world and one of the largest producers in Africa. The human capital in Nigeria is full of potential waiting to be unleashed under the right leadership at the centers. However, the political terrain is constituted by politicians who lay their pockets with the nation's wealth and most of them are poorly educated. The question remains why Nigerians have not been able to translate the success they have experienced abroad to their home country? The electoral process is rigged, and strange things happen during the election. The current administration has succeeded in closing the mouth of all opposition and the spate of violence is on the increase, especially by the dread Boko Haram. The educated and enlighted find leaving the country an easier option than staying to fight - including moi. Nigeria needs heroes who will fight with their lives - we are yet to have that, the people who remain need to grow up and stop being used by the political class.
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