HOW BEING A NIGERIAN HAS BECOME A CRIME IN THE GLOBAL GIG ECONOMY —By ADE ‘EMMY WILLIAMS’ IBIKUNLE
Yesterday I lost a $12,000 gig on LinkedIn. Not because I wasn’t among the 1% of the 1%.
In fact, they reached out to me via DM that they wanted me. I had passed all phases of the interview.
Final interview was a zoom meeting with the CEO – I got there. The moment he asked, “you’re Nigerian?”
“Yes.”
That was the end. I noticed the ambience of the interview wasn’t the same anymore.
His smile withered away. I said to myself, “Emmy, this is gone.”
At the end of the interview, he asked, “any questions for me?”
I asked him why his countenance changed when I told him that I was Nigerian (yes, I can be that bold). I’m sure he knew that already.
His response was “…the media doesn’t say good about them.”
After the interview, the hot rejection mail came in almost immediately, spiced with a plethora of reasons. I was certain this wasn’t typed prior to the interview.
Why waste my time when you’re prejudiced about a country and her people?
In a nutshell, my only crime was being a Nigerian
Being a Nigerian is twice the work, twice the stress and twice the pressure.
I wonder why I cried… mtchewwww.
No Long Words. Let me reintroduce myself.
Hi, my name is Ade Emmanuel Ibikunle, known professionally as Emmy Williams… and I’m a shameless Nigerian
I hope all international brands get to see this and avoid me repeating myself.
PS: If you’re a brand that prioritizes nationality over competence… SHAME ON YOU!
Bon appétit!
_____________________
Culled from the linkedin page of Ade ‘Emmy Williams’ Ibikunle
Ade ‘Emmy Williams’ Ibikunle is a Filmmaker, Storyteller, and a Favikon Ambassador. With a diverse background in acting, filmmaking, brand influencing, storytelling, and more, Emmy has made a significant impact in Nollywood and beyond.
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