The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and its partners have launched the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, (NRMG) to promote Nigeria’s positive image and change the global perception of the country nationally and globally.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris called on Nigerians to redefine themselves as a people to enhance the nation’s image and reputation on the global stage.
The Information Minister also explained that Nigeria’s core asset is her reputation and a positive national brand on the global stage can only be achieved when it is first achieved at home.
“I see a self-reinforcing mechanism at play in this issue of national brand and reputation. A strong national brand attracts talent, tourists, and investors, and this combination in turn further strengthens the country, positioning it to attract even more positives. The reverse is also the case, a weak national brand will discourage investments and talent, depriving a country of what it needs for national development. It is therefore important for Nigeria to take its national brand very seriously. I believe we can start by honestly assessing our strengths and weaknesses. Yes, we have our challenges and reputational weaknesses, but we also have significant strengths and untapped potential,” he said.
The Chairman, Channels TV, urged citizens to take the responsibility of building a reputation that the next generation would be proud of.
“A good reputation isn’t through slogan, but by the government putting the people first. It’s only after then that the people are brought into the vision that you can begin to move forward and make some achievements. Today I offer a charge first to our politicians and leaders, the mandate that you politicians hold is a sacred trust, not a personal opportunity for enrichment. Ethical Leadership must become the standard, not the exception. Let us leave here today with a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility for the work we are embarking upon isn’t just about managing perceptions, it is about laying the foundation for a future that we can all be proud of, a future of integrity, accountability and shared prosperity”, he urged.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, in an interconnected world, a country’s image is not just shaped by its actions but by the global perception of those actions.
“Nigeria must embrace a proactive approach to reputation management. This begins with effective communication. We must tell our own story before others tell it for us, and we must ensure that the story we tell is both honest and aspirational. National reputation is not about glossing over challenges or ignoring problems, but about framing those challenges within a broader narrative of progress, resilience and potential. We must create an environment where citizens feel empowered to contribute positively to the national image. This can be achieved by ensuring that the government listens to, and acts upon, the needs and desires of its people. Perception is closely tied to reality, and no amount of communication can compensate for a failure to deliver on the basic needs of the populace,” he said.
For the President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku there’s need to be deliberate in creating an identity for Nigeria.
“Reputation is a core asset of inestimable value, be it to a nation, an organization, or even an individual. As important as reputation is, it is not easily attained. It comes with a lot of hard work, carefully design, with deep foresight, skillful planning and strategic implementation of well orchestrated plans and actions.
The reputation of our country needs some help, the reputation and image of Nigeria need conscious, deliberate attention. Reputation is nurtured with the right character. When reputation is created and built as an asset, it is consciously managed and effectively sustained, . Therefore doing this, we believe that we are in a position to help to change this narrative, while recognising our challenges,” he said.
The Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG)is designed to propagate and project positive national reputation in order to promote Nigeria’s core values and principles .
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