Courtesy of the ReBranding Nigeria Campaign
Rebranding Nigeria
An unfortunate article sullying the reputation of Nigeria and Nigerians as having a propensity for Internet Fraud, 419-related crimes [1] and email scams has set in motion an inspired campaign to convert the Internet search for “fraud” to results that will now paint Nigeria and Nigerians in better light.
Peter J. Reilly, writing for Forbes.com published an article three weeks ago titled Nigerians Switching From Greed to Fear [2] which he changed to Switching From Greed to Fear after a Nigerian took exception to his views in a comment; he then went on to write an apology Fraud Has No Nationality- Apology to Nigeria [3].
Writing for change
Meanwhile, Nigerian bloggers starting with Jidenma Nmachi suggested every Nigerian on the Internet should start a blog [4] to militate against the negative stereotypes of Nigeria with the hope that the deluge of blogs will take Nigeria out of fraud context related Internet searches.
Meanwhile, I felt before we all rushed to crowd out the Internet with blogs there was a fundamental issue with English education in Nigeria in a blog titled Nigeria: The need for improved English education [5] which was original posted on my blog.
It is interesting to note that a comment left at the NigeriansTalk blog suggests my writing as an example of the reason why this is needed, because in Peter Iredale’s opinion, I “lack the ability to write in clear, coherent, [and] grammatically correct sentences.”
I will be the first to say I do not have formal English qualifications at graduate level and even though English is my mother tongue, I have never pretended to write for the illiterate or those whose comprehension of English is below a particular level of professional education. Mr. Iredale is however welcome to redline my copy, and I am willing to learn to express myself more effectively in English.
Concerted Positive Branding
Then Chika Uwazie uploaded a video response at the following site The Truth About Nigerian 419: Response to Peter J Reilly Article on Forbes [6] where she advocated “Nigerians need to do more positive branding in order to remove ourselves from this negative label of fraud” and email scams.
This lead to an innovative and inspired idea from Peter J. Reilly in 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria and Nigerians – Part 1 [7] where he suggested Nigerians make lists of 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria and Nigerians, in what I think is becoming a crusade that is beyond redeeming himself for an infraction to helping initiate a concerted effort to rid Nigeria of atrocious stereotypes.
I will suggest that all Nigerian bloggers write a blog titled 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria and Nigerians and basically use every opportunity to turn a negative slur into a positive and wholesome reclaiming of Nigerian pride.
The association of 419 and Nigeria should begin to yield positive commentary about Nigeria.
Sources
[1] Advance-fee fraud – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [2] Forbes.com | Switching From Greed to Fear [3] Forbes.com | Fraud Has No Nationality- Apology to Nigeria [4] Why every Nigerian on the Internet should start a blog [5] Nigeria: The need for improved English education [6] The Truth About Nigerian 419: Response to Peter J Reilly Article on Forbes [7] 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria and Nigerians – Part 1
I’m glad you like the idea and have encouraged me. I’ve been searching for other people who made the same mistake I did. It got me into a somewhat heated e-mail exchange. I could really use some help as I am dealing with a highly educated person, by his own account anyway. He is also a prince, so I want to be extra careful.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2011/08/29/nigerians-i-need-a-little-help-here/
Hello Peter,
I think you might have waded into a long-running feud between Nigeria and it’s smaller sized Anglophile neighbour Ghana.
I have provided a longer reply on your blog, but I will convert that into a proper blog, but the simple rule is this – if a person has to be an issue of how highly educated he is, he probably is much less so – as for being a prince, it is more believable seeing a frog as one.
I love the idea. Mr. Reilly seems to have discovered, as I did a few years back, that once you get interested in Nigeria you just can’t stop!
Hello Amy,
Thanks for your comment, I suppose that will count as a good reason, I will not forget to include that as one of the reasons to like Nigeria. Thank you.
Hello Amy,
Thanks for your comment, I suppose that will count as a good reason, I will not forget to include that as one of the reasons to like Nigeria. Thank you.
With the quality of English you’ve written here, I wonder how such comment landed on your Blog post. Or is this an improvement?! (Jokes) That aside.
The idea of turning a negative stereotype into a positive one is a move I don’t only consider creative but also interesting. This is because having already created a landmark with such negativity, the messages sent from a positive spin will easily pull attention and grab audience fast (to the benefit of the campaign at large).
However, suggesting every Nigerian on the web should start a Blog isn’t a feasible strategy to go about such a challenging task. As a Blog owner, I understand fully well that owning a Blog far exceeds signing up for one and putting up posts (leaving that for another day), and like you clearly stated here, the quality of written English must prevail in order for messages to be clearly passed and easily digested. One you can easily agree the average Nigerian on the web lack; thanks to our poor Education set-up.
I am very much pleased with the efforts of meaningful Nigerians like yourself to save our ever-dying image and restore some bit of sanity to our National pride. Having been a Nigerian in diaspora for almost a decade, I understand first hand the impact of a damaged National image.
I commend the brains behind this brilliant initiative and will be looking forward to more information on progress and feedback. I hope to write something on my Blog and link up with such a great initiative.
Until then, Well done.
Cheers!
Hello Ibok,
Thanks for your comment. There were many ways to take the comment about my quality of English from deep offence through to self-deprecation with the aim of contemning the slight and for good measure a riposte to boot.This matter has become a campaign that is coordinated with the 419Positive Project with the view to getting at least 100 bloggers to join in an Independence Day effort and writing something good about Nigeria.
There is another blog Introducing 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria that has all the information on how to join in, we plan to have a common introduction and logo and then a free-form list of reasons with coordinated postings to run until the end of the year and further on.
Hopefully, within the constraints of this kind of construct the quality of inputs can attain a uniformly higher standard – I did have my skepticism at first but I am nor more persuaded of the greater and broader intentions.
Thanks and regards.
Hello Ibok,
Thanks for your comment. There were many ways to take the comment about my quality of English from deep offence through to self-deprecation with the aim of contemning the slight and for good measure a riposte to boot.This matter has become a campaign that is coordinated with the 419Positive Project with the view to getting at least 100 bloggers to join in an Independence Day effort and writing something good about Nigeria.
There is another blog Introducing 419 Reasons to Like Nigeria that has all the information on how to join in, we plan to have a common introduction and logo and then a free-form list of reasons with coordinated postings to run until the end of the year and further on.
Hopefully, within the constraints of this kind of construct the quality of inputs can attain a uniformly higher standard – I did have my skepticism at first but I am nor more persuaded of the greater and broader intentions.
Thanks and regards.
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