by Wilfred Okiche
As part of efforts to rebrand Nigeria, a group of young people have put together an online campaign tagged ‘419 Reasons to like Nigeria’. According to a press release from the group, the concept involves collating 419 positive attributes about Nigeria from as many contributors as possible including Nigerian bloggers, personal website owners and anyone with an online representation.
“The 419Positive Project was initiated in response to the negative association of our country with Advance free fraud also known as ‘419’ and has an ambitious objective of generating four hundred and nineteen positive attributes about Nigeria and Nigerians. If you could tell the world one remarkable thing about Nigeria and Nigerians, what would it be?” a statement from the group reads.
“The aim of the project is to consistently inundate the internet with positive Nigerian attributes such that when anyone types in “419” in any search engine, it quickly yields positive commentary instead of the negative drivel,” the release continues.
Notable voices like Peter Reilly, Chika Uwazie, Nmachi Jidenma and Akin Akintayo have contributed to the cause, lending their voices in this regard.
The project will be launched on independence day, 1st October 2011 with at least 100 Nigerian blogs and sites listing “419” reasons to like Nigeria and from then consistently till the end of 2011.
Every Nigerian with a blog, website or online presence of any sort including facebook and twitter accounts is encouraged to volunteer and participate actively.
To register your interest, simply send an email to [email protected] with the subject – CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER providing contact details.
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