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The importance of blogging

9

Peter Reilly, a contributor at Forbes.com recently published a post titled Fraud Has No Nationality- Apology to Nigeria where he elaborates on the similarities between Nigeria’s 419 and the Spanish Prisoner Swindle and explains that fraud has no nationality. Of course, the fact that fraud has no nationality goes without saying and is no news to Nigerians. For years, Nigerians have suffered from the stigma of a vice that is prevalent all over the world. In fact a quick Google search of the word, ‘fraud” brings up various search results associated with Nigeria from Advance fee fraud to Nigeria Fraud…

Personally, I think the reason why knowledge about Nigeria’s 419 scams is so widespread globally is not so much because Nigerians are the most fraudulent people on earth but because the Internet helped popularize it. 419 deals originate on the Internet and the viral power of the Internet ranging from e-mail to social networking platforms helps popularize the menace and gives it more PR than the average fraud scheme. The 419 story has all the elements of what viral media should look like. A gullible/greedy (as the case may be) Westerner falling prey for the fantastic tales of a Nigerian in far-away and poverty stricken “Africa”  by losing all his life savings in the hopes of getting millions of dollars.

This story has captured the imagination of the world so much that on the Internet, the word fraud is as we can see above, is now synonymous with Nigeria.

Recently, I penned a piece on expanding broadband access in Nigeria titled: Getting the next 50 million Nigerians on Broadband. As I wrote it, particularly, the title, I knew the 419 jokes from other parts of the world would be merciless and boy, was I right. Here are some of the comments I found on Twitter.

RT @kookiedoo Getting the next 50 million Nigerians on broadband (because you can never have enough 419 scams!) http://tnw.co/pAZiRY #futureweb

RT @DrewFG ry“@TheNextWeb: Getting the next 50 million Nigerians on broadband http://t.co/RFSqmcB by #herecomemore419scams @simon_button @paulquilliam

RT @zeffri Getting the next 50 million Nigerians on broadbandhttp://is.gd/r09qCj <~ nope, not money scams. Fer serious

The truth is that for many people in the world, when they hear the words “Nigeria” and “Internet” the first associations that probably come to mind are “419 ” and “fraud.” Coupled with the fact that compared to other parts of the world, there isn’t as much Nigerian content online to negate this stereotype, the stereotype continues to exist in its morbid glory.

If every Nigerian on the Internet were to start a blog and periodically document their thoughts on different aspects of Nigerian life, I suspect that over time the Internet world at the very least will be introduced to a more nuanced understanding of Nigeria. I am not saying we should attempt to put lipstick on Nigeria’s problems. No. We have success stories and we have challenges and the world needs to hear about them all.

Thanks to great blogging tools such as Blogger, WordPress and Tumblr, starting a blog is really easy. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes of your time to start one and you can blog as frequently or as infrequently as you like. What’s more if your thoughts are compelling enough, you could earn some extra cash like bloggers like Linda Ikeji and many others. Also, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of growing your own audience, you can share your thoughts instantly with thousands of readers on platforms like CP-Africa. See our blogging guidelines here.

I think it is an experiment worth carrying out. Let me know what you think and please pass this on :)

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— Nmachi Jidenma

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  • victoriaaa

    very much appreciated perspective on this issue, and i agree wholly. the only way for the world to understand and appreciate the diversity of nigeria and nigerians is for us to start talking and making the world realize this!

    also, doing my part! http://www.africanurbanism.blogspot.com

  • Nne

    I'm sorry but I don't think Nigerians are sitting around concerned about what people think about them.

    Starting a blog should be something that someone wants to do because they're truly passionate about their topic(s) not because they're trying to combat a 'negative' perception about their people or culture. Whatever negative opinion someone has of Nigeria or Nigerians is truly that person's problem.

    Nigerians I know don't even acknowledge any of these things and it certainly not a topic of discussion for us. We're just living our lives and making moves where ever we go!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1684550929 Peter J Reilly

    I am pleased that my post on Forbes may do some good
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2011/08/…

    I am thankfful for the comments I received that prompted me to write the apology
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2011/08/…

  • http://www.whoisyourmp.com Dele

    It is quite unfortunate that the most people see fraudster in every Nigerian especially those of us abroad. Some times I wonder if the stigma has not become indelible owing to the fact that Nigerians and the Nigerian government have now seen the stigma as insurmountable.

    The Nigeria's image is so bad that even musicians in Ghana taunt us with a number. See video here http://www.whitedrum.com/blog-detail.php?blog_id=…

  • http://www.blogsonblogger.com/ BlogsOnBlogger Dir

    This is an interesting Article, Nigerians always has the ability to dominate whatsoever that makes for joy or a pleasant life and if truly many can embrace blogging we will end up having many great writers coming out from Nigeria. Am already a Blogger and runs several Blogs online with a Blogger Blog Directory for Bloggers http://www.blogsonblogger.com/
    And i also help people create and design professional blogger blogs.
    Blogging is Fun to me and also rewarding as it can be monetized for profit.

  • http://www.gloworld. Idris Soyeye

    Err, Nmachi, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this article is crap. It is retarded to set up a blog just to combat negative, myopic stereotypes about Nigerians. By blogging for those reasons, you're helping fuel those stereotypes. You should start a blog because you want to write on something you're passionate about, not because you want to use it as a defense mechanism.

  • FM

    I don't really understand the logic here….so if every Nigerian should blog to change the image of Nigeria, then every Congolese should blog that it's not just poverty and corruption. Every Kenyan should blog that it's not just marathons. Catch my drift?

    As a someone said, blogging should be something that you're willing to do.

    There are stereotypes for every culture. The best thing Nigerians should do is to get their governments to apprehend these people who encourage this type of fraud. Let's be honest with ourselves, there have been fraudsters in the past from Nigeria (and other African countries).

    I'm also within the line of thought that this issue shouldn't preoccupy Nigerians. They're already making significant head ways (economically) in Africa. They have an emerging economy that is recognized by many international investors.

    This is an non-issue.

  • http://krazantgc.wordpress.com Chinazar

    I admire that you are young and optimistic. That's a luxury many youths have concluded they can't afford. Keep your fire ablaze… It's contagious, I must say.

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