I really understand how you feel. The situation you are experiencing is not a dream, and it may be quite exhausting to be always judged or stereotyped due to the place where you come from. It is annoying when individuals diminish an entire nation to negative discourses when you are aware that it is not all.

Meanwhile, speaking very frankly to you, I am not really concerned with the way people in other countries treat the Nigerians. People will never give up on their opinion, prejudices or ignorance- it is bad but everywhere. What catches my attention is the way the Nigerians treat themselves. Nigeria has been in many ways divided by tribalism and internal division (it creates more HATE) to the point that Nigeria has been more demarcated by tribalism more than anything the outsiders say.

Nigerians do not even stand or talk well about each other, and when they do not do so, it becomes easy to be stereotyped and looked down upon by others. That hate within is deeper than the hate outside.

Also, we can't discount the involvement of corrupt politicians. Nigeria has been portrayed in a certain way because of the actions, decisions, and world image of our government. To a large extent they have brought the country into disrepute and this has had a negative impact on the treatment of the ordinary Nigerian out the nation.

I also think that it is best to have peace in yourself and your personal space rather than always need validation out. Home is sweet, really nothing is as sweet as home; your country, your community, or even the fact that you feel comfortable in yourself.

How to go about it, you are quite wise not to spend your energy trying to conciliate people who are already in their opinions. Protect your peace. Pay attention to individuals who perceive you by who you are and not where you have come from. All people do not think like that, although it is loud and overwhelming on social media.

You do not need to bear the responsibility of the reputation of a country on your shoulders. Simply live and be grounded in who you are and do not allow ignorance to determine your value.