By Glory Akpan
Veteran Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has urged Nigerians to change negative perceptions about the country but rather contribute to building its reputation through responsible conduct, credible storytelling and collective action.
Mofe-Damijo made the call at the Pivot Nigeria Conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
Pivot Nigeria, a thought leadership platform focused on reframing how Nigeria is perceived, is set to hold the second edition of its annual gathering with leading voices from the creative, media and communications sectors.
He said Nigerians should move beyond criticising the country to finding solutions to its challenges.
“We are too quick to condemn us.
“There are problems but we need to fix them.
“Don’t stand and just criticise and then proffer no solution,” he said.
Emphasising the role of citizens in determining the country’s direction, Mofe-Damijo, urged Nigerians to hold leaders accountable and participate actively in governance.
He said every Nigerian was an ambassador of the country, adding that individual conduct could influence how Nigeria was perceived internationally.
The actor described Nigeria as a young country and further urged citizens to remain patient while contributing to its development.
Also, Convener of Pivot Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, said the platform was created to help Nigerians examine how they viewed themselves and how their actions shaped the country’s image.
Uwadoka said government had a responsibility to create an enabling environment through effective policies, infrastructure and other measures that would strengthen trust and national development.
She urged Nigerians to tell balanced stories about the country by acknowledging its challenges while highlighting its achievements.
“We want all of us as Nigerians to understand that we are great people.
“We are special people. We have great attributes. We have brains. We are creators,” she said.
Uwadoka called on Nigerians to engage, challenge and push back, by participating in civic affairs, holding leaders accountable and resisting practices that undermine national development.
Earlier, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, said national reputation was a collective responsibility.
Neliaku, who was represented by Adetokunbo Modupe, said Nigeria’s reputation was not only a public relations issue but also an economic, investment, tourism, diplomatic and national confidence issue.
He identified Afrobeats, Nollywood, fashion, technology, entrepreneurship, sports, literature and creativity among Nigeria’s major reputational assets.
According to him, the country must amplify these positive stories while addressing the factors that damage its reputation, adding that the nation could not advertise its way out of institutional failures.
“Our reputation is what people conclude from what we repeatedly do,” he said.
Neliaku said every effective institution, ethical professional, successful Nigerian and positive experience contributed to the country’s reputation.
He called for continuous measurement of national sentiment and documentation of Nigerians making positive contributions in different sectors.
He noted that the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum in Abuja would provide an opportunity for Nigeria to engage global PR practitioners and tell its story to the world. (NAN)nannews.com.ng
Edited by Joan Odafe/Vivian Ihechu
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