My Dear Country!

Nigeria, my beautiful country. I so much admire my land for many things, and I believe other countries do too. One of them is the ability to find joy even in difficult moments, and it seems as if nothing is ever going wrong as we make sure we bring funny moments from it.

One good thing that other countries know my country for is our vibrant culture and resilience. No matter where you go, when people hear "Nigeria," the first thought that comes to mind is our music, fashion, food, and entertainment industry. Oh my! Our food and culture are so rich.

One of such genres of music is Afrobeat. The likes of Nigerian artists such as Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and many popular Gospel artists have put us on the global stage and have taken the world by storm. Songs like this are what make everywhere turn lively and beautiful.

And beyond the entertainment industry, people know Nigerians to be hardworking and to have the ability to thrive even in tough situations. That’s something that makes me proud of my dear Nation, filled with people with a “never giving up” spirit.

On the other hand, one bad thing that many other countries know Nigeria for is corruption and internet fraud. In fact, I have read a few entries about this, and it’s sad to see everyone talking about the same thing. And that’s the truth. It is sad to say that the "Nigeria Scam" tag has been around for years and is still going on, which has created a bad image for many innocent Nigerians.

Take, for instance, the recent incident on Hive with a Nigerian who has successfully scammed people from other countries, including her own beloved country.

So, everywhere you go, other countries are quick to pick Nigeria as the first country whose record of corruption and internet fraud has become a big menace. This is indeed painful because while some of these issues are based on real problems that exist, they have also been exaggerated and blown out of proportion.

We still have many Nigerians who aren’t corrupt or into fraud. These are people who still stay honest and work hard, striving daily to make a decent living, but they aren’t given the benefit of the doubt to prove themselves that they are different from those who are involved in such acts.

The effects of these claims have been both good and bad. On the good side, our rich culture has become a global attraction, opening the doors for many young Nigerians to succeed outside the country and all over the world. But the bad side is how these acts have become a negative image on everyone, and have caused a lot of unfair treatment, such as being rejected from getting a visa, and being suspected in foreign countries. Sometimes, Nigerians have to be in hiding in other countries, working twice as hard to prove they are trustworthy.

Imagine being painted as a fraudster when you are not, just because someone has given our country a bad image, and it will only take the grace of God to be pardoned and given a chance to prove yourself. Everywhere you go, you hear things like, "Your country is very bad. I am afraid to help you." Imagine the feeling of being labelled as them when you aren’t.

Despite all these, I can not love my country less, and that’s the truth. I believe every country has their own bad ways, and no one is perfect. I also believe that many of us want to continue doing good and represent Nigeria well. So, when we do this, the world will start to see a different side of who we truly are and not be judged by a book cover alone.

_{Image Credit to Gemini}