₦airaland Forum

Africans so gullible even white kids can mock with your minds:


4Chan’s latest, terrible ‘prank’: Convincing West Africans that Ebola doctors actually worship the disease

By
Caitlin Dewey
Reporter

Washington Post

The message-board 4chan has been rightly blamed for many unsavory Internet things: the celebrity nude scandal, the dangerous “bikini bridge” meme, the brief virality of the self-harm hashtag #cuttingforBieber.

Now, the denizens of one of the Internet’s least-principled places are attempting to propagate another tasteless meme: She’s called Ebola-chan, and she’s some cross between a prank, a witless joke and a truly vile strain of racism.

“Have you welcomed her into your heart yet?” Asks one post on 4chan’s “politically incorrect” message board, /pol/. “I’m talking, of course, about Ebola-Chan. The viral goddess of love and Afrocide … Our shrines and incantations give her strength.”

Ebola-Chan is not, needless to say, a goddess anywhere outside of 4chan’s diseased imagination: The character is a /pol/ invention, a cartoon mascot for the virus that could infect half a million people within the next four months.



In fan art — of which there is, surprisingly, quite a lot — she’s depicted as a pointy-chinned, wide-eyed anime character with pink pigtails that curl into the shape of the virus. Wherever she’s posted, users are expected to reply with choruses of “I love you, Ebola-Chan” or “thank you, Ebola-Chan.” But of course, they reply with all kinds of stomach-turning stuff, as well: hopes for Ebola to wipe out all of Africa, to strike other continents or demographics, and to otherwise “remove … [the] subhumans,” as one particularly racist post put it.

It’s hard to tell how much of the chatter is genuine: 4chan, with its reputation for both ammorality and mischief, has always attracted a crowd of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ lolz-seekers along with the sincere racists, misogynists and homophobes.

But regardless of whether the fine people of 4chan actually hope Ebola kills more people, some seem bent on helping it do just that. On Sunday, an anonymous 4chan user took responsibility for a series of fake posts about Ebola-Chan on the Nigerian Web site Nairaland, which claimed, among other things, that Ebola was a demon sent by a “new racist cult in Europe and in the USA.” The posts also claimed that some Western Ebola doctors belonged to the cult. While the “rumors” were reported by outlets like Vocativ and the International Business Times, Nairaland users promptly called out the trolling — much to the prankster’s disappointment.

“The whole thing needs more effort,” he complained.
Image without a caption


This is, of course, all in the standard 4chan playbook. 4chan pranks usually unfold in predictable stages: an inside joke of some kind is born on the boards, its participants invent fake handles on forums or social networks to propagate it elsewhere, and everybody dances in the resulting confusion. (“It made it into the news in my country,” one man wrote of a Swiss article on Ebola-Chan. “Pretty funny.”)

It stops being funny, of course, the instant that anyone misses the “joke” and takes it seriously. In January, 4chan’s bikini bridge “joke” went viral within the Internet’s pro-anorexia and -bulimia communities, to the enormous alarm of the National Eating Disorder Association. In Africa, where misinformation and superstition about Ebola flourish, that risk could be particularly high: As Reuters reported in late June, suspicion and fear of doctors has already undermined efforts to fight the disease — and that’s without rumors that said doctors belong to some Ebola-worshipping death cult.
Image without a caption (Nairaland.com)

4chan’s moderators seem to be aware of the problem, at least: While the site didn’t respond to The Post’s request for comment on the issue, they’ve apparently started to go after Ebola-Chan threads.

“MODS!” one user posted. “Ebola-chan threads are not allowed. Pls remove.”

But even if the mods do remove them, Ebola-Chan may have done her damage. Much like the disease itself, now that she’s out there, there’s no controlling her.

“I loved witnessing the birth of ebola-chan,” another user wrote over the weekend. “However things are [e]scalating to some weird levels.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/09/22/4chans-latest-terrible-prank-convincing-west-africans-that-ebola-doctors-actually-worship-the-disease/[/quote]

Inform me, somebody, , please, who is the president of the country called North that has decided to sanction farm produces formerly given in charity to the country called South lead by president who? Also I’d like to know if the farmers and cattle breeders of the country called North are independent or work for the Country called North (i.e State owned). In addition, are the Countries called North and South federal republics? If they are, what are the opinions of their respective state governors to the edict that farmers in their state are to boycott sales of farm produce to the country called South?

Clowns everywhere ...

marvin906:
Is it just me or does she look asian

Post a pic of the type of Asian you mean.

thebosstrevor1:
Yes.

A United Nigeria is what we want.

A United Nigeria is the powerhouse of the black race.

Paid outside influences on social media platforms are creating internal tension in Nigeria, making us fight among ourselves so that we can not reach our potential

Truth. Unfortunately, the ignorant make up the majority of any society so many will not see what you’re saying. Creating the circumstance for chronic food shortages is another classic method used by foreign sponsors of insecurity in Africa.

When some of us say foreign forces are responsible for one thing or another in an African nation others counter with other arguments but this people do not understand that we blame foreign forces because their method are predictable, they leave behind an unmistakable signature as though they think so little of the African’s intellectual capacity they don’t need to hide what they do.

When Nigerians move in the company of Caribbeans or and African Americans, they are often pushed into favouring Ghana at the expense of Nigeria thire own country. Some would even join them in hating Nigeria and pontificating political nonsense. The fans that made them would be Nigerians yet they later act in ways that ultimately negatively impact those fans.

In his place, I would spend the money building a code learning Saturday school for Nigerian kids from poor background. Or even set up small music studio.

Farki:
No problem, we will buy from Benin Republic, since these guys want to be mad.

Yeah, a broken up Nigeria is great and beneficial to the neighbouring Nations, which is why many of them want Nigeria to break up. It helps France as well.

Shortsighted, short-term thinking Africans with crab mentality. Actually not Africans I meant black People.

Do not drink the following herbal tea: Tetley Lemon Balm –I’ve been meaning to post this quite a while now but fear doing so may contravene some sort of rights that may see it removed by Mods so get the name quickly just in case. This tea seem to negatively affect the dopamine levels of some individuals resulting in sever depression.

I never understood the meaning of Depression and always though it meant just feeling down until the morning after drinking this herbal tea. I didn’t at first link the feeling that first morning with the tea. The feeling was one of immense foreboding and deep, deep, deeeeep down sadness. That first time, I thought I was having some sort of premonitions of death. I worriedly phoned all my loved ones, warning them to be careful. All day this feeling of doom persisted in addition to a clean, antiseptic, coldness that I could not escape in spite of all that I deed to distract myself. In any case these feelings faded by the next day.

I had no idea the tea was responsible since I did not drink the tea the next day. I’m not a herbal tea fan and only bought this one because I had been having difficulty sleeping. A couple of week later, I had a cup of the tea before going to bed around 9 pm. I woke bolt upright around 1 pm as though woken up from sleep by the presence of evil. The room was icy and I nearly ran from the room hollering in dread. These feelings worsened, becoming like those that I described earlier.

That which I experienced may not be what depression feels like but if it is then I salute anyone who is able to live with such feelings for 3 days let alone years. I have associated the tea with causing those feelings and binned the entire box. Since then I’ve not experienced any further episodes.

tutudesz:
Like seriously bandits just kidnapped almost 600 girls and your priority is to arrest Sunday

Isn’t this like suggesting all other law and order matter should be forgone in favour of prioritising the finding and releasing of the school girls?

Adding to all that’s been said, I find it baffling and worrying why authorises in Nigeria never seem to learn lessons from events in order to put in place measures to prevent their recurrence. The majority of security and pressing issues state governors in Nigeria contend with are not difficult ones to resolve. Right now, without doubt, we all know kidnapping will be attempted again; I wonder what preventative measures the governor, mister Bello Matawalle (he actually needs to be removed from office) will put into place.

Are governors in Nigeria unimpeachable ?

www.nairaland.com/attachments/13193222_policestation_jpege2f8fb93efcc5baf051653c5f4415c5d
Nigerian colonial outpost Station for the people of the lower Niger River.






https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/3527605537_ec88eb3ff0_b.jpg
Irish police station, a police station difficult to burn down and murder officers inside.

The cost in building structures like these will be recuperated in lives saved, how long it will last, the inspiration it provides citizens, how it humanises the police and inspires them etc,etc

Much attributed as causes of Nigeria’s problem is over-thinking by overlooking issues as small but crucial as inability to organise. When will it occur to Nigeria that police stations in Nigeria need to be built more securely to redress the recurring sacking and burning down of them thereof?
When will it be obvious to the Police that the people have outgrown village constabulary infrastructure?

terrezo2002:
Very wrong. It is not wrong to have needs. It is being greedy that is evil.

Early man had to kill to eat. The need to eat is the root of "Evil"

When some posters glory in the killing of police, implying in their arguments that there are no innocent police, hope they realise that soon the police may be legitimated by this level of reasoning in arguing that there are no innocent Nigerian citizens.

terrezo2002:
The love of money is the root of all evil. Take away greed and selfishness, you will have a world that would be peaceful.

The need to eat is the root of all ''evil''

ATTACK ON ABAYI POLICE STATION: POLICE NEUTRALISE FOUR OF THE ATTACKERS, ARREST EIGHT, RECOVER ARMS AND AMMUNITION

AS IGP WARNS OF DIRE CONSENQUENCES FOR FUTURE ATTACKS

The Police in Abia State Command successfully neutralised (4) four attackers, arrested (cool eight persons and recovered arms and ammunition from hoodlums who carried out an unprovoked attack on Abayi Police Station, Aba in Osisioma Ngwa LGA of Abia State in the early hours of 23rd February, 2021.

It is worth noting that the hoodlums numbering about two hundred persons, armed with AK47 rifles and matchetes invaded the station and set part of it ablaze with the aid of petrol bombs and other explosives. Following the attack, two officers, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Vincent Gonze and Sergeant Emmanuel Okoronkwo unfortunately paid the supreme price.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu NPM mni commiserates with the family and friends of the deceased officers. He warns that dire consequences await any person or group of persons who, under whatever guise, engages in an unwarranted attack on any public property and directs all Command CPs to employ all legally permissible measures to protect lives and property

Meanwhile, investigation is still ongoing and the perpetrators of the unwholesome incident will be prosecuted in due course. The police high command calls on proprietors of medical facilities - both public and private - in and around Abia State to report any person(s) found seeking medical treatment for bullet wounds and other related injuries to the nearest police station.

CP FRANK MBA

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA

Good, catch them backside! When Nigeria police start apprehending murderers and law breakers, perhaps by adopting forensics and other modem methods, much of Nigeria’s current insecurities will significantly diminish. Impunity is one of the largest log in the fire being stoked in Nigeria. I’ve always wonderd why Nigeria police seemed so inept at tracking down miscreants given that the average Nigerian deviant is stupid bordering on retarded, this later handicap - and not porverty - possibly responsible for his or her deviancy in the first place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kaysm_xhM8

When those of African descent act stupid, I see them as black people. I don’t doubt militant groups are capable of destroying Nigeria. It amazes me when acts of terror and wanton destruction take places in Nigeria, many that support it come online to swell , boast and otherwise carry on as though the perpetrators had achieved what the general Nigerian opinion doubted possible. Yet, it is patently obvious to the entire world that black people are gifted at destroying, it is building and creating that they find difficult.

Haven’t scrutinised the article thoroughly in order that I’m informed by it , and I will, but for now I’m too irritated by just how inappropriate the whole thing seems. And I cannot imagine what on earth anyone would say that would make better economic, political or social sense for Nigeria to invest in a rail line to Niger republic over rail service linking up more of Nigeria than is the situation now. As far as I see it, Nigerians need to get off their asses – like they have never done before - and fight any such move. As for, USA, USA barley supports anything that does Nigeria any good. If they are so keen for our welfare, or so want to promote economic development in the region, why did they sanction military equipments Nigeria needed to battle Boko? Why haven’t they offered Nigeria beneficial deals/ loans targeted at improving Nigeria’s electricity sector? In a snap, America could fix Nigeria’s Electricity issues and benefit economically from doing it. And Since Niger-Republic is so keen to send goods to Ghana and Benin, they can’t have neutral objective feelings towards Nigeria. If they did, they would have appealed to their colonial masters to help fund rail lines through Nigeria in agreement with our government. I’m sure they must have resources their French or America partners’ would rather see transported to Nigerian ports for export given that such would be the cost effective route. Niger’s future is nothing but a corridor for Islamic terrorists’ trooping down from the Sahel not to mention of the situation now.



Fuckit all actually - if there's spare money, just spend it on the Nigerian people's dream for Nigeria and not on foreigners dream for Africa, with all that borderless Africa crap! Link up as much Nigeria states as possible by rail instead! Fix up the ports in the East like the Igbo want; dialogu with the Chinese or whoever to target Niger delta for some sort of Marshal Plan managed by the federal government and the relevant loan lender. Fix Security industry, which encompasses the Military, Police/judiciary; the Education industry, Medical industry etc Nigeria has no shortage of priority needs, which would yield economic benefits, over any economic benefits of a rail line to Niger republic.

Kaiser20:
Nigerians are friendly people and as a big nation they're not afraid of competition. A smaller Ghana is afraid that Nigeria population can swallow them, don't blame them.

Well with oil revenue dwindling, and future prognosis of a reveres rather dire, Nigeria needs to begin battening down the hatches in order to preserve what it has for the use of Nigerians.

LMS1:
The Beach Fine But That Terminal Area Is Spoilt By Fishing Activites. The Place Stinks Cus Of Fishermen,
The Beach Is Mostly Fun In Dry Season.I Also Heard It Has The Highest Number Of Ghanaian Fishermen In Nigeria .
I Was Here Some Time Ago I Could't Believe This People Caught A Dolphin,first Time Of Me Seeing That Fish Off Natgeo Wild!.
Ibeno Beach Is Lively And Gat Lots Of Crafish And Fine Girls.
Ibeno Idediong O!!

Could Nigerians fish this way in Ghana waters?

I’ve watched several videos featuring Nigeria beaches, from Lagos to other places, and, similarly, Ghanaians full the place fishing as they like with no one bothering them.

Why are Nigerians so wasteful of resources and instead prefer to complain up and down about what government did and did not do ? I know some of you will be thinking, that it's up to Nigeria government to monitor and enforce the relevant maritime laws and what not and some of you will say, why bother about the Ghanaians why not the Chinese trawlers? And my answer would be: firstly, if Nigerian fishermen made Ghanaian beaches their fishing domain, it would be ordinary Ghanaians that would harass the Nigerian fishermen, probably tie some of them in fishing nets, hang them up, video the incident and put it online so that African Americans can join them in gloating at the humiliation they were inflicted on the Nigerians. Secondly, as for the Chinese, my answer would be that Nigeria is apparently challenging no one, Ghanaian or Chinese and we should begin challenging all none Nigerian parties exploiting our waters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G-EigZ07so

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYQwuYZbA6o

Good but more required, the road to Obodo Oyibo standard is lined by taxes and tamed citizens Nigerians remain wild still, though, shrieking and condemning anything around them for not being like the West yet jumping on car bonnet, exposing panty to driver because traffic operatives are doing like the West and trying to confiscate their vehicle for extreme traffic violations

PHijo:
Colonial countries have caused extreme pain in Africa. How do you explain having Somali people in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethopia and Kenya?

How do you explain having Hutu in D.R.Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda?

What about having Yoruba in Nigeria, Benin republic or Togo?

Hausa in countries like Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana?

Something has to be done to reduce the pressure Africa's fake borders create.

Someone quoted you and stated that you are very right but actually you are mostly wrong. The borders of Nigeria encapsulate the natural home of the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo peoples. The Yoruba’s, Hausas and Igbos you find in other African nations not bordering Nigeria are consequences of relatively recent migrations out of Nigeria. Those in bordering nations are the real consequences of Colonial borders, e.g parts of Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon bodering Nigeria. Europe is not immune; for instance, Germany claims that parts of France belong naturally to Germany. Alscae and Lorraine, the small land between France and Germany, created conflicts between the two nations. Anyway, the primordial Hausa kingdom although does have a substantial sprawl into Cameroon, the core kingdoms of the Hausa, Yourba and Igbo are in present day Nigeria.

Hmm, like i stated from the very first, a Nation the size of Nigeria, with her open borders, with West predilection for fuelling insecurities in African nations, Nigeria’s wealth, importance , capabilities and so on, Nigeria needs at least a million man strong military. You need the manpower at least in economic circumstance that necessitates arming them with sticks and rubber boots even.

Nigeria also needs to look at social media, the borders, policing - and for god sake you the important Nairaland members need to advice MODs to resist populating Front Page with negative news. There are many positive as well as neutral and engaging articles that deserve Front Page promotion you can find in Niaraland’s other subsections. Negative news also plays a role in creating the environment for negative acts when positives acts are an equal option.

Typical Front Page ( Millions of Nigerians are informed by Nairaland):

Can One Still Graduate With First Class After Failing A Course? «
» Gumi Met Bandits Near A Military Post - Ex-DSS Official, Amachree «
» How Laycon's Oversized Sneakers To The Headies Awards Sparked Reactions Online «
» Uzodimma, Okorocha Feud: Senator Kalu Sues For Calm, Calls For Unity «
» Hoodlums Kill 2 Policemen In Aba, Set Station On Fire (Video) «
» President Buhari And Unlawful Appointments - This Day «
» Barca Star, Lenglet In Tears After Foul Caused Late Penalty In Draw (Photo, Video) «
» Man Shot Dead By Suspected Cultists In Delta (Photos) «
» We Saw Hell In Captivity — Freed Niger Passengers «
» Passengers Transported With Wheelbarrows At Rumuokoro Flyover In Port Harcourt (Pics) «
» Don’t Blame Herdsmen Alone, Farmers Also Carry AK-47 For Self-Defence - Lalong «
» Insecurity: Avoid Non-Essential Travel To Nigeria - Canada Warns Citizens «
» Nigerian Judge Acquires Property Inside Dubai’s Burj Khalifa - Peoples Gazette «
» Killer Herdsmen Are Ethnic Militants At War, Not Bandits - Sheikh Gumi «
» Borno Attack: Hundreds Trapped As Boko Haram Hoists Flags In Marte «
» N100 Daily Tax: Kano Keke Riders Begin Indefinite Strike As People Climb Trucks (Pix) «
» Fleeing Residents Shun Ogun Palliatives, Remain In Refugees’ Camp «
» Gov. Ikpeazu Calls For Enforcement Of Anti-Open Grazing Law «
» Femi Fani-Kayode Visits Prophet Joshua Iginla (Photos) «
» Hijab Crisis: Kwara Is A Muslim State, Take Your Mission Schools To Rivers - MURIC «
» N30bn Benin Stormwater Project Is A Fraud - Obaseki Vows To Probe It (Photo) «
» Lady Sexually Harassed By A Man At Ajah Park In Lagos (Photos, Video) «
» 7-Year-Old Smart Nigerian Model Mimicking President Biden's Inaugural Speech (Video) «
» Arrest: Rochas Okorocha College Students Protest Across Nigeria (Videos) «
» If Anything Happens To Me, Hold Gov Bala Mohammed Responsible - Gov Ortom «
» Petrol Landing Cost Jumps To ₦186, Oil Hits $64 «
» Boko Haram Will Soon Infiltrate Killer-Herdsmen, Bandits - Sheikh Gumi «
» 2023: Nobody Can Match Tinubu's Candidacy – Ogun Monarchs «
» Many Feared Dead As Shekau-Led Boko Haram, ISWAP Clash «
» Ford Issues Safety Compliance And Recalls For 2020-21 Ford F-Series «
» PDP Wades In, Calls For Calm In Bala Mohammed, Ortom's Rift «
» Presidency Intervened To Release Me From Police Custody - Okorocha «
» Senate To Screen Service Chiefs Behind Closed Doors Today «
» Pauline Tallen Pays Condolence Visit To NAF, Commiserates With CAS «
» Systems Of Land Tenure In Nigeria «
» Oramah, Anohu, Others To Speak At Africa Soft Power Series «
» 542 New COVID-19 Cases, 681 Discharged And 23 Deaths On February 22 «
» Spotify Set To Launch In Nigeria «
» Daft Punk Splits After 28 Years «
» 'After I Took A Loan For Her, She Blocked My Number' «
» 'I'm Confused About The Grade Level I Was Given For A Federal Government Job' «
» Help! I'm Going Bald At 22 - A Nairalander Cries Out! (Photo) «
» Photographer Captures Photos Of 'Never Before Seen' Yellow Penguin (Pics) «
» FG Will Restore Peace, Sanity In Two Months - Senate President «
» Enugu To Commence Operations Of Its Tech Hubs, Youth Innovation Centres «
» 'Ondo People Have Abandoned Their Farms To Avoid Being Killed By Fulani Herdsmen' «
» Insecurity: Niger State Governor Calls For Recruitment Of More Security Personne[/b]l «
» 'Marriage: Why Are Men Losing Interest In Settling Down?' «
»[b] ₦2.5 Million: Will You Invest Here Or Travel Abroad For Greener Pastures? «
» Singer, Faze's Twin Sister Dies 2 Days To Their Birthday (Photo) «
» 'Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed Is A Fulani Terrorist' - Benue Governor, Ortom «
» Man Stabs His Younger Brother To Death In Edo (Photos) «
» 'I Never Arrested Anybody As Governor, As Uzodinma Did To Me' - Okorocha (Video) «
» Panic In PDP As APC Woos Zamfara, Bauchi, Cross River Governors «
» Footballer Emenike Hosts Governor Uzodinma, Phyno In His Mansion In Imo (Video) «
» Lagos Judge Requests COVID-19 Test From Protesters Before They Can Be Bailed (Video) «
» U.S Supreme Court Allows The Release Of Trump's Tax Returns «
» Update On Third Mainland Bridge Repairs (Week 31) «
» Lady Extorts & Assaults Her Friend For Dating Her Boyfriend, Films & Uploads It «
» Is Africa Really A Better Place To Raise A Child Than The Western World? «
» You Loaned Your Friend N4m Since Last Year & He Has Refused To Pay & This Happened «
» Stop Tagging Soldiers As Muslims, Christians – Shehu Sani Replies Gumi «
» 25,000MW Deal: FG, Siemens Sign Pre-Engineering Contract «
» Buhari, Governors To Discuss Fuel Pricing On Thursday «
» SEC Seeks Regulation Of Digital Assets, Says $2 Trillion Crypto Can’t Be Ignored «

Antoeni:
Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AFUCDN), yesterday, demanded from the federal government, a N475 billion compensation for the killing of their members, cows and destruction of their properties during the #EndSARS and Shasha market crisis.
The union also threatened to withdraw their members across Nigeria if government fails to address the continued killings of members as well as destruction of properties worth millions of naira.
The union had on 18th February issued a seven-day ultimatum to government at all level to stem the incessant attacks and harassment of her members doing their legitimate businesses in Nigeria.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the President of the union, Muhammad Tahir, said the foodstuff and cattle dealers had continued to suffer intimidation, humiliation and destruction of their goods.
Tahir added that 151 members were killed during the #EndSARS protests last October, while 100 were murdered during the Sasha market crisis in Ibadan two weeks ago.

He further stated that his association had written to President Muhammadu Buhari about killing its members but no action was taken.

Tahir demanded N450bn compensation from the government for the losses suffered by the union members and the dismantling of illegal roadblocks on the highways.
He stated, “The Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately revisit our demands at various times to address the issues which include but are not limited to compensation for lives and properties lost; protect the rights of our members while on transit and at their places of doing business.

“To draw an agreement between state governments and the union that subsequently, if any violence erupted in that state and our members are attacked, we will not hesitate to withdraw our services immediately.

“Based on the above, we are therefore giving the Federal Government seven days ultimatum within which to address the issues raised, or we have no option than to call our members out on a nationwide Cattle Union Issues 7-Day Strike Notice, Demands N475bn Compensation From FG
http://therecorderng.com/2021/02/22/cattle-union-issues-7-day-strike-notice-demands
-n475bn-compensation-from-fg/

They should also put their case to CNN.

zeeace:
imagine comment from a human being on a post like this. you're a disgrace to who ever gave birth to you. goat.

Absolutely.

TechCrunch

With over 1.3 million users, Nigerian-based fintech FairMoney wants to replicate growth in India.
Tage Kene-Okafor
18 February 2021, 08:00
https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/over-1-3-million-users-080024351.html

There are more than 1.7 billion underbanked people globally, the majority of which are from emerging markets. For them, accessing loans can be difficult, which is a problem fintechs try to solve. One way they do this is by promoting financial inclusion by underwriting credit via a proprietary algorithm.

One such company is FairMoney, which describes itself as "the mobile banking revolution for emerging markets." FairMoney, founded by Laurin Hainy, Matthieu Gendreau and Nicolas Berthozat, is a licensed online lender that provides instant loans and bill payments to underserved consumers in emerging markets.

Three years after launching its mobile lending service in Nigeria, the company set up shop in India, Asia's second-most populous country, in August 2020.


Before expanding, FairMoney experienced exponential growth in Nigeria in terms of loans disbursement. Last year, it disbursed a total loan volume of $93 million, representing a 128% increase from 2019 and a staggering 3,189% growth rate from its first year of operation in 2018. As it stands, the company is projecting a $300 million loan disbursement volume by the end of 2021.

"I think we've been able to disburse 25-30% more than some of our competitors and I think we're a market leader," Hainy, the company's CEO, told TechCrunch. But compared with traditional banks, it was the seventh-largest digital financial services provider in that area.

Nigerian digital bank Carbon hit $240M in payments processed last year, up 89% from 2019

FairMoney has come a long way since its Nigeria launch in 2017. In its first year of operation, the company had little over 100,000 users. Now, it claims to have 1.3 million unique users who have made more than 6.5 million loan applications. FairMoney offers loans from ₦1,500 ($3.30) to ₦500,000 ($1,110.00), with its longest loan facility standing at 12 months. Annual percentage rates fall within 30% to 260% -- the high APR, Hainy says, is due to higher default rates in Nigeria. That said, FairMoney also claims to have an NPL ratio lower than 10%.

According to the CEO, data-driven insights was behind the choice to expand to India. The Indian market is quite similar to Nigeria's. In the Asian country, only 36% of adults have access to credit, leaving an untapped market of about 141 million people microfinance banks do not serve. But unlike Nigeria, India has better unit economics for the lending business and a more friendly regulatory environment.

"If our ambition is to build the leading mobile bank for emerging markets, we need to start with very large markets," Hainy said. "We tested our products in 10 different markets checking out for things like what the yield economics is like, NPLs, cost of risk, customer acquisition cost, cost of infrastructure and India stood out to us."

Following its expansion six months ago, FairMoney claims to have processed more than half a million loan applications from over 100,000 unique users. This number trickles down to 5,000-6,000 loan applications per day, with APR standing at 12-36%. Hainy says the company has achieved this with zero ad spend or marketing.

Because of the daunting logistics behind international expansions, it's challenging for an African-based startup to expand outside the shores of the continent. Although a rarity, there are a couple of startups to have undertaken such a task. Last year, Nigerian fintech Paga with 15 million users and a network of over 24,000 agents acquired Ethiopian software company Apposit to fast-track its expansion into Ethiopia and Mexico.

Nigeria’s Paga acquires Apposit, confirms Mexico and Ethiopia expansion

FairMoney is on a similar path, as well. And with over 100 staff spread across Nigeria, France and Latvia, the company hopes to build an engineering and marketing team in India.

Last month, it hired the services of Rohan Khara to become its chief product officer (CPO) and facilitate the expansion. Khara is the former head of product for financial services for Indonesian super app Gojek and held senior roles at Microsoft, Quikr and MobiKwik. Hainy says with Khara's wealth of experience building consumer products in large emerging markets -- India and Indonesia -- FairMoney is poised for massive growth in Nigeria and India.

"We both share the vision that financial services in emerging markets need fixing and for us, Rohan brings the expertise to see FairMoney scale from almost a million users to 10 or 20 million users."

Born in Germany to a Nigerian father and German mother, Hainy began his entrepreneurial journey in 2015 by launching a food delivery company in Sweden. Seven months later, he founded Le Studio VC, a Paris-based startup studio and €15 million fund he ran as CEO for three years.

"After those three years, I realised that being an investor wasn't for me yet. I felt I was too young and I wanted to build something myself," he said.

Neobanks like Revolut in the U.K. and N26 in Germany were picking up across Europe. Hainy wanted to create something similar for Nigeria after noticing how much people lacked access to affordable financial services during a visit.

But despite studying other neobank models, Hainy and his team couldn't replicate them in a developing market like Nigeria. Credit was still significantly underserved by Nigerian banks because of the strict methodology employed in allocating loans. Sensing an opportunity, they launched FairMoney as a neobank by leveraging a credit-first model. Like Nubank in Brazil, FairMoney started off offering loans to solve the access to credit problem. But its broader vision is not to be just a digital bank but also a commercial bank.

The company is working toward getting a microfinance bank license to operate as the former in Nigeria. However, according to the CEO, the commercial bank license will take longer, maybe five to 10 years.

"In the next five to 10 years, I'd like to think two out of the five largest commercial banks in Nigeria will be neobanks. We want FairMoney to be one of them," he said.

The Lagos and Paris-based company raised an $11 million Series A in 2019. Between now and the time it will get a commercial bank license, Hainy says the company would've raised its Series B round to position itself for that task.

FairMoney raises $11 million for its challenger bank for emerging markets

After India, which emerging market will FairMoney expand to next? There's none in sight at the moment, the CEO says. The company plans to move from a credit-led value proposition to a full financial service provider, deepen its verticals and replicate Nigeria's growth in India for now.

Btw who the hell is Jay Henrey the guy really finished Nigeria with this article:https://codecjay.medium.com/8-reasons-why-its-almost-impossible-to-own-a-tesla-in-nigeria-techyloop-57601ef8a4d0

Nigeria is known for so many good and bad things, while the bad things have always been massive and have enveloped the good ones, Nigerians wouldn’t let that affect some parts of their lives and the cars we drive is one of those aspects.
When you look around, it’s obvious that Nigeria’s economy is in a mess but one thing is confusing, despite the pathetic economy so many Nigerians still drive around in exotic, luxury cars.

To an extent, consider it that any luxury car, no matter how expensive the ride is must have one or two owners in Nigeria.
That’s the same story with Tesla products. There are some people who own Tesla cars in Nigeria. At least one or two Tesla cars have been spotted somewhere around Nigeria and I want to believe that there’s still more out there.

But the truth is, Tesla cars; although being almost of the same price range with the mainstream car brands like Toyota and Honda an average car owner drives around in Nigeria we can never have a Tesla car be more popular than it’s right now in the country.
Here are 8 reasons why Tesla cannot be mainstream in Nigeria
· Charging will always be a problem because of the lack of adequate electricity:
Electricity has always been a problem. Billions of Naira poured into the power sector every year but still, 24/7 light is something that an average Nigerian could only dream for.
You know the feeling you get when using your smartphone for something important and the battery goes flat on you and there is no means of charging. You will be relieved if you have a fully charged power bank lying around somewhere but in the case of Tesla, there’s no power bank.
While you may fuel a normal car at the next filling station, an electric vehicle needs to be charged in a proper electric charging station, and this may take several hours depending on the amount of charge you want.
Imagine driving along third mainland bridge and your Tesla battery runs out there.
Imagine electricity is something Nigeria has gotten right alongside a lot of other things electric cars would be a thing and it would be a gradual goodbye to our 100% reliability on gas/petrol.
· Some of Our Politicians will always kick against Electric cars on our Nigerian roads
One of Nigeria’s biggest problems has always been politicians. Greedy, corrupt old men occupying the leadership seats with no good agenda to further the nation but only to stuck their houses with riches — for their children and the generations that come after their children.
Why would a politician suggest that, as an oil producing country that Nigeria should frustrate the sale of electric cars? And I believe so many other politicians and lawmakers will have the same mindset as the idea as the former deputy senator that made that suggestion.
They will only feel good and support the idea if they are the only ones to own it.
· Bad roads
Another problem that plagues the advancement of the whole country. A problem that receives billions of naira every year to be solved, but we only see the solution next to huge currency figures on paper, nothing is done in reality.
Your Tesla will only survive in Nigeria only if you live inside a sophisticated, modern estate and you also drive around there. Try to pull out on a major Nigerian road, your Tesla will be towed home in pieces.
· Car theft
Although Tesla is a highly secured car, with so many built-in security features and technologies built into it that will make losing the car almost impossible. But when a typical Nigerian arm robber and carjacker means business with you, you will be very lucky to escape with your life intact to even bother about your Tesla.
· Being a popular target for Hawkers and Beggars

I am not against giving alms to the poor beggars and some disabled individuals. But most Nigerians now have to beg as their daily business. Some with hands, feet, and eyes intact will still sit along with the road begging. Owning and driving a small Toyota Corolla will make you top target to this false beggars talk more when you drive a Tesla if you don’t have your principles set up correctly, be ready to drop alms on every junction or anywhere you pull up with your car.

· Our Corrupt Nigerian Police will always harass you & might harm you if you refuse to comply
The Nigerian police, another nightmare to behold in this country. They said they are protecting our lives but instead it’s obvious that they are more concerned about their pocket; making it fat at the expense of our lives is now their top priority.

Unless your career is not one of those that the police is allergic to, talking about the lawyers, doctors and top politicians, you will always meet embarrassing harassments with the uniformed men which might cost your life if you refuse to comply with their mischievous demands.
· Maintenance & Repairs

There’s almost nothing to maintain in a Tesla car because everything is somewhat electric and software based — with 100% electric motor. You wouldn’t risk getting physical damage on your Tesla. But is that even possible on our Nigerian roads? Where tri-cyclists and taxi drivers need to be mad enough to drive around and make their daily living; scratching cars and pulling bumpers from other vehicles.
Finally, there’s no Tesla service center in Nigeria, you dare not take it to your local mechanic. The only solution is to send it back abroad to be serviced and then wait for several months to get it back.
· Cost

The cheapest Tesla car right now is the Tesla model 3, which costs $35,000 (12.8million Naira) while the most expensive is the Model X P100D which its cost ranges from $79,500-$145,000 (29 million -53 million Naira respectively).
I believe so many Nigerians who have spent up to 120 million Naira in getting themselves wonders-on-wheel luxury cars would see spending 12 million Naira on an electric vehicle a meager expense; just like buying a toy car for their toddler at home.
But, the experience wouldn’t be the same for millions of average earning Nigerians who would prefer to buy a tokumbo car than spend millions on a brand new one because of their financial status.
Finally, Tesla’s in Nigeria is a no-brainer, the one or two people that owns and drives it around must be living a life out of this world.

I believe with time, the demeaning issues mentioned above will improve in Nigeria and give products like that of Tesla and the rest the opportunity to be comfortably used in Nigeria and the companies also extend their customer support down here too.

twilliamx:
Am not laughing.....I feel so too

Well, as they say, naija no dey carry last. Our electricity problem is the joke that I know you understood.

twilliamx:
Kk

Don't laugh, I bet you somewhere in that Nigeria, there's s Tesla owner.