Nigeria Plans To Shift From Reputation Repair To Reputation Leadership
In a world where perception can move faster than policy, Nigeria is choosing to look itself squarely in the mirror, not to despair, but to act.
At the 1st Nigeria Reputation Summit in Abuja, government, public relations professionals and reputation managers converged on one central truth: Nigeria must move from potential to performance to win global trust.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described reputation as “a strategic asset” that must be protected with action, integrity, and honest communication.
He praised the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for producing Nigeria’s first National Reputation Perception Index, noting that the 35.2 per cent score was “not a verdict, but a mirror.”
Idris argued that while perception often lags behind reality, Nigeria has been cundergoing changeunder President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through macroeconomic reforms, improved fiscal discipline, local government autonomy, and investment in infrastructure, hhealthcare and innovation.
He insisted that the government alone cannot rebuild trust, it requires partnership with professionals, the private sector, the media, and citizens.
In his remarks, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, described reputation as “a national power” that shapes investment, diplomacy and citizens’ dignity abroad.
He explained that the new Nigeria Reputation Perception Index provides a scientific baseline for measuring trust, with culture emerging as Nigeria’s strongest pillar at 49.4 per cent.
While celebrating Nigeria’s creative strength, music, film, fashion and resilience, Neliaku warned that culture alone cannot carry the nation.
He called for stronger leadership, social equity, innovation and coherent communication while clarifying that lobbying is a legitimate global public relations practice.
He cautioned that Nigeria must handle its international engagements, including hosting the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, with utmost seriousness.
Earlier, Chairman of the NRMG, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, framed reputation as a leadership responsibility rather than a public relations exercise.
He warned that nations that fail to manage their reputation leave their story to others, and declared that the summit marked a shift from “reputation repair to reputation leadership.”
He announced October 15 as Nigeria Reputation Day, a yearly observance to focus national attention on ethical, coordinated reputation management.
As Nigeria steps onto the global stage amid reforms and scrutiny, this summit signalled a clear intent to stop reacting to narratives and start shaping them with credible performance.
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