Online Business: Reputation of Nigerians is a Serious Problem

Nigeria- When Femi Bayode started as an online education consultant four years ago, he sometimes spent weeks or even months working on projects without pay — just to convince clients abroad that he wasn't trying to swindle them.

Other digital entrepreneurs say they often hide or change their IP addresses so prospective foreign clients and funders can’t immediately identify that they’re working from Nigeria.

“Our reputation is a serious problem,” says Bayode.

Blame it on the Nigerian prince of Internet lore. Nigeria's online sector is booming, as evidenced by the hundreds of entrepreneurs, social media experts and tech industry insiders that have flocked to the city for Social Media Week Lagos 2015.