Tinubu Laments Over Mislabelling of Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has rejected the blanket stereotyping of Nigerians which taints the reputation of the majority of its citizens.

He stated this at a forum with the theme, ”Public Engagement on Youth, Religion, and the Fight Against Corruption,” organized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja.

The event also marked the launch of an Inter-Faith Manual and Fraud Risk Assessment Project for MDAs.

The president was represented by his Vice,  Kashim Shettima, who commended the EFCC for serving as a moral compass and persistently awakening the nation’s conscience.

Emphasizing that Nigeria was home to industrious and honest people, he criticized the unfairness of categorizing all Nigerians as corrupt due to the deeds of a select few.

The President has expressed his unequivocal opposition to the widespread mislabeling that damages the character of most Nigerians.

The President pointed out that, despite Nigerians’ enormous contributions to the world in domains like artificial intelligence and medicine, such egregious misrepresentation fails to capture the essence of a resilient and diverse country.

He said: “Over the decades, Nigerians have been victims of mislabelling. Such gross misrepresentation fails to reflect the true essence of our diverse and resilient nation.

“The association of internet crimes with the entire Nigerian populace lacks statistical evidence and does not align with the sociology of everyday Nigerians.

“Our nation comprises hardworking, honest citizens who contribute significantly to various fields globally, from Artificial Intelligence to medicine.

“While we reject blanket stereotyping that undermines the majority upholding principles of integrity and diligence, we must face the fact that we function in an interconnected world where cybercrimes have evolved into a global phenomenon.”

President Tinubu affirmed that cybercrimes pose a menace to the entire world and gave the EFCC the government’s resolute support in their fight against digital offenses.

“Our message to the youth is clear: the horizon is wide, and opportunities abound across various sectors,” he said.

The President urged the youths to take advantage of these lawful prospects and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.