A trending internet video of an interview shows a “Nigerian African-American” lady inadvertently exposing the reason why Nigerians succeed and prosper overseas while their country remains a mess. Responding to a question as to why “American-Nigerians” down on black Americans, she replied in a classic manner. She said they shouldn’t be upset because it was nothing personal, just that Nigerians tend to look down on everybody including, and most especially, other Nigerians! She said our scorn for others isn’t because we look down on them; it’s more a question of ignoring the less fortunate and looking up towards others.
Nigerians respect only those who are better off financially than them irrespective of how they got the money. Struggling to be better than others is inculcated into successful Nigerians by their parents. The lady humorously said her father admonished her that, “If the black man does it, do it better; if the white man does it, surpass him; and if the Asian man does it, finish him!”
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Nigerians are taught to only respect those they wish to advance over, not those behind them. She said when people ask her if Nigerians think they are smart, she says, “Yes, they work hard to be smart.” Being better than others is ingrained in the minds of successful Nigerians right from the home. The lady said whenever she got a grade “B” in school, she would cry because her mother would be on her case. Instead of congratulating her daughter, she would say, “So the person who got an “A” grade, what were they doing? And why did you not do it?”
To be successful as a Nigerian is a matter of finding out who is ahead of you and why they are better than you. To her parents, it was unacceptable for her not to be successful because they had left Nigeria and emigrated in order to give their children a better life and more opportunities for success. This attitude isn’t condemnable; it’s indeed admirable. As a result, Nigerian Americans are one of the most educated groups in the US. They make up one per cent of African Americans, but represent 25 per cent of top black students and are out-earning white Americans.
How come Nigerians who easily prosper overseas can’t succeed in Nigeria? The truth is that Nigerian migrants to the US on average are five times more productive than those at home. This isn’t simply because the US has more machinery and tools; it’s because the average American has access to over $418,000 in “intangible wealth”, whereas the average Nigerian has access to less than $20,000. Intangible wealth relates to factors such as trust among people, an efficient judicial system which deals quickly with dishonesty, and most importantly a just and effective government. These intangible factors which are lacking in Nigeria boost the productivity of labour and result in higher total wealth.
The World Bank estimates that taking into account all of the world’s natural resources and productive capital, 80 per cent of the wealth of rich nations, and 60 per cent of the wealth of poor nations are intangible. The natural wealth of a nation is only a tiny proportion of its overall wealth. As far as the World Bank is concerned, the rule of law explains approximately 57 per cent of a country’s intangible wealth, and a good educational system accounts for 36 per cent. Unfortunately, some nations are so badly governed that they actually have negative intangible capital. Through rampant corruption, depletion of ethical standards and a failing school system, Nigeria is destroying its intangible capital, thereby ensuring that Nigerians will be poorer in the future.
The one thing the lady didn’t mention is the type of persons Nigerians look up to. The truth is that Nigerians don’t look up to people; they look up to money. Nigerian “success” has nothing to do with integrity, good name, inventing things, or developing society; it’s all about the money in your bank account. As a result, corrupt unprincipled politicians, internet fraudsters, ritualists, armed-robbers, kidnappers, and all manner of charlatans are scrambling for money by any means irrespective of the harm it does to others.
Looking up to one’s peers and not paying attention to those below you is acceptable in a society where there is rule of law and a government run social safety net to take care of the downtrodden and destitute. In Nigeria, where both these are absent, looking down on people is so entrenched that the cheapest generator is referred to as “I betta pass my neighbour!” It allows the owner to engage in the chest-beating of having somebody to look down upon. The truth is that Nigerians aren’t taught that the best way to improve their personal situation is to improve the nation. In fact as a result of serial maladministration of our affairs, the conventional wisdom is that anyone ready to wait for Nigeria to develop before prospering will live and die in penury!
Struggle to get money by any means so you can mock others! Caring less for others is not the way in which a decent and prosperous society can be developed, yet those are the traits Nigerians encourage. Political office holders and their appointees show contempt for the rule of law, disparage opposition, and show open contempt for the public who they look down upon. In truth, we Nigerians pour so much scorn upon ourselves that we cannot make useful contributions to our mutual survival.
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