If I went to Nigeria

If you are a European, Nigeria may not be on your list of favorite destinations. Maybe because it's far away. Maybe dangerous. Maybe too warm. Maybe wild. There may be contagious diseases that we, Europeans, would find difficult to bear. But people should never let prejudice stop them from getting to know the world.

Today I am going on a virtual trip to Nigeria because of the wonderful Nigerian people on this platform. Dear friends from Nigeria, I am writing for you today.

Nigeria is home to many people and is one of the most populous countries in the world, but population size and statistics are less important. It is important to say what message these people are sending to the whole world. My impression is that Nigerians are open-hearted people, very polite. They always address others with respect and appreciation. It is a real pleasure to talk to them because they remind you that good still exists in people despite all the problems they face.

Did you know how many colorful butterflies fly in Nigeria? Lots of them. The most in the world. Nigeria is a land of butterflies. That's impressive. If I went to Nigeria I would try to see as many butterflies as possible. Unique opportunities exist only for one reason. To enjoy them.

Nigeria is also home to an endemic species of monkey and many other wild animals that you cannot see anywhere else in the world. In this country lives a wild animal kingdom worth preserving. Meeting these animals would be very exciting.

Have you heard of the "African time" phenomenon? That's fantastic. "I'm late, so what?" This is an attitude that particularly appeals to me, and which would be socially acceptable in Nigeria. In my country, tardiness is very difficult to tolerate and that makes pressure. After all, we are just people. Wrongful, free, relaxed. Why not treat ourselves more relaxed towards time which is an infinite instance? Time will not run away, but we can get lost in a hurry not to be late.

During my experience in the field of telecommunications, I have come across many times the fact that social networks, especially Facebook, are widely used in Nigeria. I’m currently in the mood when I almost don’t use social networks like Facebook at all, even though I have active accounts. I try to see more people in person. But I would take advantage of the fact that people in Nigeria use social networks, to connect with them more easily. The use of social networks undoubtedly speaks to the online literacy of people in Nigeria and sociability. People who use social networks easily connect with other people.

Nigeria is known for oil production. All the wealth is in that oil. But then one thing bothers me. How is it possible that Nigeria is so rich but so poor? If I had any power, I would take it with me on a trip to Nigeria. I would change the existential living conditions for many people living in poverty. I would make the hunger go away forever. To all those who live in poor hygienic conditions due to poor financial situation, I would provide a normal life conditions and in that way all infectious diseases that take many human lives every year would disappear.

Did you know that Nigeria is a country of music? Quality sound from this country can be heard far away. There are a lot of music artists worth mentioning. Fela Kuti for example was one of them. His work is recognizable by a specific African style called "Afrobeat" . For me, it is a relaxing style with a touch of jazz, suitable for those days when you want to indulge in music and escape far in thought. If I went to Nigeria, I would love to hear this sound.

And Nollywood? A lot of good films have been directed in Nigeria. Nollywood is the Nigerian film industry and is the second largest in the world in terms of the number of films produced. Nigeria is a country of creative and talented people.

What delighted me the most was that whenever I wrote about some of my personal problems, friends from Nigeria wrote in the comments that they would include me in their prayers. Friends from other countries, such as the Philippines, Venezuela are doing the same. Faith is something you are born with. In my country we are not very religious and prayers are unfortunately not at the core of our habits. Of course, there are people who are religious, but unfortunately I am not one of them, although I would like to be. I want you to know that I am honoured when you tell me that you will include me in your prayers. Thank you for the peace and kindness you spread.

Dear friends from Nigeria, I hope you will like the way I experienced and presented your country. Feel free to correct me when it comes to the facts mentioned.

Thank you very much for reading.

Article and lead image are original and mine. Other photos are from unsplash.com.