IN a private tour in France, Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, took a stand against the prevailing ‘blanket stereotyping’ of Nigerians as cybercriminals. Tinubu argued that such generalisations distort the true image of Nigeria and unfairly tarnish the reputation of the majority of law-abiding citizens.
Deputy President Kashim Shettima, reading Tinubu’s speech during the tour, emphasised the lack of statistical evidence supporting the association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace. Tinubu expressed concern about the longstanding mislabelling of Nigerians, stating that this misrepresentation fails to capture the diverse and resilient nature of the West African nation.
‘There is a lack of statistical evidence supporting the association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace,’ he said.
President Tinubu underscored that everyday Nigerians are hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various global fields, including artificial intelligence and medicine. He urged against overlooking the positive contributions of the majority due to the actions of a few.
In 2020, the FBI ranked Nigeria 16th among countries most affected by cybercrime, with the Nigerian Communications Commission reporting an annual cost of $500 to the country. Tinubu’s remarks aim to challenge stereotypes and promote a more nuanced understanding of Nigeria and its people, urging the international community to recognise the nation’s diverse talents and contributions beyond the negative portrayal associated with cybercrime statistics.
President Tinubu’s call for a more nuanced perception aims to foster a global understanding that goes beyond prevalent stereotypes and acknowledges the positive role Nigeria plays on the world stage.