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Nigerians In Canada Don’t Love Or Trust Each Other; They Patronise Ghanaians More Than Their Own……
Nigerians In Canada Don’t Love Or Trust Each Other; They Patronise Ghanaians More Than Their Own – Canada-Based Nigerian Laments
Before you start blaming other African countries for developing untold hatred for Nigerians, you need to hear the heartbreaking story of a Nigerian businesswoman who recently closed down her African shop in Canada.
The painful story was sent to NaijaGists.com last night by a woman who used to own a big African food store in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
The woman said her shop located close to Williams Pkwy and Queen street in Brampton was forced to close down after fellow Nigerians refused to patronize her.
The lady who only identified herself as Mama Blessing said most Nigerians in Canada are not supportive of each other.
Before she closed shop and returned to Lagos, she said another African Food store called Lagos Market also closed down in a similar manner in Toronto after fellow Nigerians who supposed to be supporting the man, went shopping at an African store owned by a Ghanaian nearby.
She said Lagos African market on Jane street had to close shop for lack of business while her Ghanaian counterpart enjoyed overwhelming patronage from Ghanaians and Nigerians.
Back to the story of Mama Blessing.
After 2 years of struggle, she was forced to pack up shop.
“Tell my people back home to stop blaming South Africans and Ghanaians for having untold hatred towards Nigerians. You see while I was still struggling to stay in business, I used to see my fellow Nigerians driving down to the African shop of a Ghanaian close by, but what did I do to deserve this, why will fellow Nigerians not patronise me. At a point, I even hired someone to do flyers to distribute at all Nigerian churches in the Greater Toronto Area but all to no avail. I paid for ad in Nigerian Canadian Newspaper and it yielded no fruit while my fellow Ghana competitor is enjoying huge patronage from both Nigerians and Ghanaians. As a matter of fact, more Nigerians patronise her than Ghanaians.”
At the bottom of the email, Mama Blessing is interested in knowing Why Nigerians overseas especially in Canada are so jealous of each other.
We call each other brothers and sisters, yet we backbite and say unkind things about each other.
No other African countries are doing such here except Nigerians.
How can we expect outsiders to love us, if we don’t have genuine love for each other.
How can we move forward when we are filled with envy, jealousy and hatred for each other.
I think issues like this is why Nigeria is where it is right now.
No nation can move forward without love. That is one of our main problem.
Emmanuel Makinde
November 4, 2018 at 2:27 AM
Here we go so we should stop blaming south africans and Ghanaians then. So sad to hear this.
I’m based in newmarket Ontario so am not that close to Nigerians
Emmanuel Makinde
November 4, 2018 at 2:28 AM
One thing I observed is that Nigerians here like to feel important. Even if they only have a room, they will tell you they have a mansion
Mon
November 4, 2018 at 2:37 AM
Because we pretend to be one Nation while we are not….the name NIGERIA is becoming a taboo and need to be dismantled.
Tipsy
November 4, 2018 at 3:44 AM
I believe what she said because my sister that was deported in 2014 told me the same thing.
The hatefilled Nigerians reported her to immigration released her address.
The next morning they came for her and the next month she was deported.
Since then, she has been having issues trusting people.
Ifeoma
November 4, 2018 at 6:23 AM
Nigerians in the USA don’t patronize Nigerian owned businesses either.
If you depend on them, your business is finished.
By Nigerians, you know we have the 2 major tribes here, Igbos and Yorubas.
It’s a reflection of the evil that dwells inside them and their relatives who are busy back home destroying Nigeria.
iron bar
November 4, 2018 at 12:28 PM
its everywhere..we hate to deal with each other.Even if something is going on like scholarship or free skill training going on some where ,they will rather let it go than telling fellow country people.but east africans especially will hint their brethren as soon as they hear something beneficial..too bad.
Anonymous
November 4, 2018 at 9:00 PM
I live in Markham, Canada. However I believe as Nigerians we should be ingenious with our products and marketing. Do not target only your fellow Nigerians. Try also not to go into business that requires ONLY Nigerians to patronize you! I have been in business in Canada for 8 years, its been the Grace of God. My best clientales have been whites! I remember an incident that a fellow Nigerian after finding out I was Nigerian started behaving ridiculous even after I showed him beyond exceptional customer service! All I did was to call the police for him. At that point, he was ordered NOT to ever come within metres of my shop! Good riddance!
Naija Gists.com
November 4, 2018 at 9:20 PM
God bless you @anonymous. You are very wise. I hope a lot of business people from Nigeria and Africa can tap into this.
Iconic
November 5, 2018 at 12:22 AM
I’m sorry to hear that mom but don’t categorised it, I’m here in BC and I’m patronizing a NIG ?? because the price she sold to me is cheaper than a Ghanaian I knew before her “, business is more of customer service and price, everything is expensive here, $1 will make someone to change his mind, madam you wouldn’t have go back to Nigeria ??, you should have try other province, Saskatchewan Regina as I’m talking to you now don’t even have one African store, if you try like 3 province God may open up a way for you, going back to Nigeria is the weak decision mom, unless you have who will help you there, Don’t give up on your struggles everyone
AK
November 5, 2018 at 3:25 PM
This is interesting. I was in Canada during summer (August 2018) for my holiday and I witnssed few of some of the comments so far. My brother only shops in a Nigerian store in Toronto. However, I visited a friend in Brampton and I went with her to the store and it was a Ghanian store. Truth be told, the arrangements, cleaningness and customer services sure differs to what I saw at the Nigerian store with more varieties and more products.
Also, I went to a restaurant owned by a Nigerian in Toronto and it was divers, it cut across perfectly infact, I can say there were more white folks there than Africans as he sells various cusines with a bit of mix in the music too which was awesome. Knowing our people with ‘beef’ may have its effect based on envy and jealousy but whatever business you do, its yours to suuceed and excel, people may try but with your very own input, efforts, commitments and prayers, you wull sure be successful.
Ace
November 6, 2018 at 7:57 PM
I wouldn’t support the idea that Nigerians don’t patronize themselves.
I live in Atlanta GA, i buy Ghana yams from a Ghanaian store, because her yam is always fresh, and cheaper. One day, i asked her what the secret is! She told me her brothers back home helps to source her yams, and air-freight it, although it’s more expensive than shipping, but she makes her profit.
My dear sister in Canada, you would have tried to find out why Nigerians are not patronizing you!
It could be products freshness, prices, availabilities, varieties, customer service is important too.
Business is all about competition. I will definitely patronize my person, if everything is in place. Money is hard to come by, i will spend my money wisely, irrespective of whom am dealing with.
Teetee
November 8, 2018 at 6:57 AM
I’m in Canada and l never for one day think like that. Infact, if l know that you are from Nigeria, I will want to patronize you.
One thing l noticed is that you have to have varieties, fresh and have a clean environment.
For instance, l used to buy yams from a store (owned by Nigerian) some where close to Northyork in Toronto but these yams are always very dry, spot and l stopped buying yam for a long time until recently l discovered another place, which there yams are very fresh, not dry but a dollar or two expensive and l preferred it (this place is actually owned by a Ghanaian but l don’t care about who owns the store).
I buy my things in a place where l get value for my money, I don’t care about who owns it but it has never come to me that l will not buy things from Nigerians.
Again, be friendly, when you see some people, you might want to ask if they are mourning, they don’t laugh