Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EGAB, Dina Aboughazala, has described her recent visit to Nigeria as an “eye-opener,” noting that the country’s warmth and hospitality sharply contrast with the negative stereotypes often circulated about African nations, even among Africans themselves.
Aboughazala, a media professional who has built a career countering harmful narratives, admitted that despite her work, she was not immune to the effect of the warning-filled comments she received before her trip.
According to her, friends and family responded with unusual concern after she revealed she would be travelling to Abuja.
“The reactions were very different from when I say I’m travelling to London or Paris.
“Instead of excitement or shopping requests, I was told to ‘be careful’ and ‘avoid strangers.’ Their worry genuinely got to me, ” she said.
She said the anxiety lingered until the moment she landed in Abuja, only for it to disappear almost immediately.
“Once I stepped off the plane, I realised how unfounded my fears were,” she recounted. “The first words I heard were ‘welcome ma’. At immigration, a warm female officer complimented my hair, that alone made my day.”
Her experience, she said, was defined by kindness: strangers offering to help with her luggage, a passer-by offering to call her driver, and a general atmosphere of courtesy.
“I have lived in five countries across three continents, and I have never encountered this level of warmth in any foreign country,” she remarked.
Aboughazala spent three days in Nigeria, two of which were devoted to the inaugural African Solutions Journalism Summit, an event she said she will reflect on separately.
Her third day was spent exploring Abuja, shopping for local artefacts and indulging in plantain chips, which she joked should be exported to Egypt.
She emphasised the importance of increasing intra-African travel and hosting more international gatherings within the continent to strengthen understanding and reshape narratives.
“We, Africans, need to tell each other our truth.
“I am honestly sorry I allowed stereotypes to influence me, even for a moment, ” he said.
In her message of appreciation, she expressed gratitude for the hospitality she received: “Thank you, Nigeria, for being so warm, kind and welcoming. I will definitely be coming back.”
The reflection was originally shared on the Facebook wall of journalist Simbo Olorunfemi.
