Controversial Yale professor Amy
Chua and her husband Jed Rubenfeld have named Nigerians among the eight leading races with the ability to excel
over and above others in the United States. According to the couple, some
groups in America are inherently more likely to succeed than others pointing at
the ease with which Nigerians earn
doctoral degrees. The couple also noted that Indian and Chinese Americans earn
much higher incomes than other Americans while the Jews are top of the table
reinforced by intense discipline, determination, and not given to fleeting
impulse.
In their new book, ‘The Triple
Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups
in America,’ the two Yale professors said their research showed Nigerians as well as Jews, Indians,
Chinese, Iranians, Lebanese-Americans, Cuban exiles and Mormons were in the
category of certain races bound to succeed in America. These cultural groups,
the authors added, have three easily identifiable traits: the superiority
complex, insecurity and impulse control with each group believing it is
exceptional, chosen and superior in some ways, while at the same time
exhibiting a lack of confidence that prompts them along, thus creating the need
for further improvement.
The authors also gave what may be a
debatable insight why some groups, including African-Americans, might not have
what it takes to reach the top. The authors added: “It may be taboo to say but some
groups in America do better than others. Mormons have recently risen to
astonishing business success. Cubans in Miami climbed from poverty to
prosperity in a generation. Nigerians
earn doctorates at stunningly high rates. Indian and Chinese Americans have
much higher incomes than other Americans; Jews may have the highest of all.”
Hua and Rubenfeld may not have
recognised that beyond doctorates, a new generation of Nigerians mostly highly educated as well, are making stunning
success in corporate America and are joining the billionaires club of
successful entrepreneurs. Last July for example, Chinedu Echeruo sold his
online city transit guide HopStop to Apple for an estimated $1 billion.
HopStop before then had been named one of the 100 fastest growing companies in
the US in 2011.
Echeruo represents one among the many
as Onyeani, a Nigerian US-based
publisher, hold promise for Nigeria’s potential greatness different from
the fraudulent ones that the New York Times loves writing on who give the
country a bad image. Michael Adeniyi CEO of New York-based Simaden Capital
also noted there were many unknown and successful businessmen like Echeruo in
the US wishing to come home and partner with the federal and state governments.
Also recently, New York Controller
General who spoke through a proxy during the Goodluck Support Group dinner at
the New York Millennium Plaza said New Yorkers were proud of the value
Nigerians were adding to the total growth and economic development of the
country. According to Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Professor Ade Adefuye,
America is home to over one million Nigerian-Americans and twice that number
live and work in various parts of the US contributing constructively to the
social and economic development of the country.
“We do take pride in the description
of Nigerians as the most literate set
of immigrants in America. There is no single recognised profession in
the US that Nigerians have not distinguished themselves. Nigerians are law
abiding. The image of the ugly Nigerians has disappeared. Most Nigerians in the
US are bold, brave, bright and beautiful,” Adefuye said.
Nduka Nwosu –
New York (THISDAY N.P)
My View: What a relief for my country’s
image... lol. But without mincing words I disagree with statement of the
Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S, Prof Ade Adefuye when he said- “Nigerians are
law abiding. The image of the ugly Nigerians has disappeared”. That is
sooooooooo... false. The image of a corrupt Nigeria and Nigerians has become more
visible than ever.
Edna Wey
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