When the idea of travelling to Nigeria is raised or brought up, lots of questions arise but the most common are,
- Is it safe?
- Are there things to see in Nigeria?
- Can I get value for my trip?
- Will I regret coming to the country?
Admittedly, I had these questions in mind as well for a very long time until I realized that I was missing a whole of opportunities to explore the cultural richness, the natural resources of this promising nation, caused (unfortunately) by stereotypes that have spread globally.
Here are some common of the myths and misconception about Nigeria.
1. Nigeria has nothing to Offer
This is rather unfortunate, seeing that the country has the largest economy in Africa and a vast natural resources. Nigeria is no surprise ranked as the 27th largest economy in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP), and the 24 th largest terms of purchasing power parity.
Nigeria offers a wide variety of tourist attractions such as beaches for swimming and other water sports, unique wildlife, vast tracts of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forests, magnificent waterfalls, some new rapidly growing cities and climate conditions in some parts particularly conductive to holidaying.
Other attractive offers are the traditional way of life preserved in local customs, rich and varied handicrafts and other colorful products depicting and illustrating native arts and life style and the authentic, unsophisticated but friendly attitude of many in Nigeria’s population.
2 Nigeria is a Big Forest
Even kids in Western countries are taught this misconception that Nigeria is a big forest filled with wild beasts and Ape –men who lived in mud–houses.
This couldn’t be more far from the truth, a man from Sweden experienced it first hand when he arrives in Lagos, only to be stunned by the massive buildings and skyscrapers. He openly admits that most of the buildings in Lagos could be compared with some buildings in Europe. That is rich coming from a man in Sweden.
3 There’s a high rate of illiteracy in Nigeria
If it were 1700’s, this would have been extremely true, but a whole lot has changed after the missionary exploration and the country’s (eventual) independence in 1960.
As it stands, Nigerians have one of the highest literacy rates in Africa and English is the official language in Nigeria due to its multi ethnic status.
The country also boast of several erudite scholars and writers, some of whom have gone up to win several international awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature.
4. All Nigerians are Fraudsters
Yes, some Nigerians indulge in fraudulent activities that have affected folks both within and outside the country.
And this has led to the generalization that all Nigerians are crooks and we shouldn’t be trusted which is why till date, Nigerians are restricted from payment platforms like PayPal and some other websites.
However, while we do have folks that engage in such illegal acts, it’s not right to draw on a conclusion that every Nigerian is a fraud.
On the contrary, Nigerians have been commended globally for their, rather peculiar spirit, resilient mindset and unmatched work ethic.
5. Nigerians are in no way innovative
This misconception most likely stems from the third myth above, but even till date, many youth in Nigeria keep rising to trample on this myth, because across the world we have young people who found a way to write their names in gold and put themselves on the global map in diverse industries, including entertainment, fashion and technology.
In conclusion, some myths and misconceptions about the country is not what it is and you might be missing out on a good and great opportunity to meet her people and get to know the country for what it truly stands for.
Long live Nigeria!