By Collins Yakubu-Hammer, News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja.
The Federal Government has urged professionals, institutions, and the private sector in Nigeria, to take responsibility for building and protecting the country’s reputation through honest communication and visible progress.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the call at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, held on Tuesday, in Abuja.
The Summit which had the theme, “Better Nigeria, Better Reputation”, was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
Idris commended the NIPR, the Nigerian Reputation Management Group, and its leadership for producing the Reputation Perception Index Report, after several years of research.
He added that reputation building is a long-term national effort that requires discipline and consistency.
The Minister acknowledged that while the report places Nigeria in a low-trust category, significant progress has been made in the last two years under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and youth-focused innovation programmes, including student loans and venture funding for young entrepreneurs.
He stressed that the government alone, could not shape Nigeria’s reputation.
“Reputation is earned through action, not slogans; It is built when policy meets purpose and when communication reflects truth.
“This is a national task, and every Nigerian has a role to play.
“I urge communication professionals and citizens alike, to promote unity, reject false narratives, and project Nigeria with confidence and clarity.
Also speaking, the President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku said that the Summit is strategic because the world has changed.
He explained that in the modern global order, reputation has since become a national power, with immense implications on the citizens.
According to him, it is that soft subtle influence that drives the political economy and social engagements of any nation, organisation, and individual.
He further noted that reputation affects a country’s cost of borrowing, speed of investment inflow, confidence of visitors and tourists, credibility of country’s diplomacy, and the dignity of her citizens across borders.
“Recently, precisely last Thursday, Jan.15, the NIPR in partnership with Reputation Perception Services, released the first Nigeria Reputation Perception Index (NRPI) 2025 Report.
“It is a historic evidence-centred document that has established a scientific framework and baseline and diagnostic assessment for measuring the reputation of Nigeria, with both domestic and international perceptions.
“With this accomplishment, NRMG and other relevant stakeholders in Nigeria reputation project, can now effectively measure our journey to scientifically determine where Nigeria is, at any material point in time
“I will like to emphasise that Nigeria’s biggest reputation capital is her people; This explains why the Culture Pillar scored the highest at 49.4, as Nigeria’s strongest reputation asset.
“This is our global advantage, comprising our creativity, our music, our film, fashion, sports, food, resilience, audacity, and hope.
“Nigeria is one of the most culturally influential nations on earth. Culture keeps Nigeria admired even when other pillars struggle,” he said.
The NIPR president noted that the NRPI 2025 was not designed to shame Nigeria, but designed to help the country.
“This is because, it gives us baseline truth so we can build a measurable path to reconstruction, recovery and renewal.
“Interestingly, Nigeria’s reputation is not what we say about ourselves. It is what the world believes about our systems.
“It is what they feel and think when we are not in the room, and it is what our citizens experience every day,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit attracted stakeholders in the public relations, media and reputation ecosystem across the country.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA