Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG), Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, has warned that election-related violence and the desperation of political actors to win at all costs could undermine Nigeria’s reputation and discourage foreign investors from visiting the country.

He raised the concerns at the 2026 Nigeria Reputation Day, organised virtually by the NRMG with the theme, “Own the Narrative: Shaping Nigeria’s Reputation Together.”

The NRMG chairman said Nigeria must deliberately address the conduct and practices that undermine its reputation, rather than concentrate solely on promoting a favourable image to the international community.

Badejo-Okusanya recalled how a prospective international investor had cancelled a planned visit to Nigeria following a travel advisory linked to concerns over the forthcoming elections.

He urged politicians to embrace peaceful electoral contests and avoid actions capable of damaging the country’s international standing.

He warned that the attitude of politicians who seek victory at all costs could have consequences beyond the immediate political environment, as developments in the country are monitored by potential investors and other international stakeholders.

“There’s a client that we have, and was coming to Nigeria, wanting to make investment, and we heard that he’s no longer coming again because there’s a travel advisory, and it stems out of the fact that the elections are coming and people are afraid,” he said.

“Please let us have these elections in a peaceful atmosphere. If you don’t win today, you can win tomorrow. It’s not winning at all costs that we must all do,” he added.

He identified the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum as an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its potential to the international community, noting that delegates from about 126 countries were expected to attend.

He urged public relations professionals and other stakeholders to use the gathering to promote Nigeria responsibly and advance democracy, while ensuring that the country’s actions matched the image it sought to project.

In his keynote address, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, said Nigeria’s reputation was a strategic asset capable of influencing investment, trade, tourism and the treatment of its citizens abroad.

Peterside argued that image-building campaigns could not compensate for poor institutional performance, stressing that Nigeria must demonstrate measurable progress in governance, security and public service delivery to earn international confidence.

“Promotion can get you noticed, but proof earns you credibility,” he said.

He urged the country to move beyond explaining its challenges to demonstrating, through verifiable evidence, how it was addressing them.

The former NIMASA chief cited Nigeria’s maritime security experience as an example of how sustained action could change international perceptions.

He said efforts to combat piracy through the Deep Blue Project helped improve the country’s maritime security record, adding that Nigeria recorded no piracy incidents in years.

According to him, the progress contributed to Nigeria’s improved international standing in the maritime sector, including its election to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation and the lifting of war-risk insurance restrictions that had affected maritime operations.

Peterside said the experience demonstrated that tangible results and sustained institutional efforts were more effective in rebuilding trust than publicity campaigns alone.

He warned against turning reputation management into propaganda, insisting that the country must acknowledge insecurity, environmental damage, governance gaps and social tensions while providing evidence of efforts to address them.

To strengthen the country’s response to reputational challenges, Peterside proposed that the NRMG develop common standards for crisis communication and establish a national evidence repository and reputation dashboard to document achievements, identify persistent challenges and track progress.

Earlier, Chairman of the NRMG Advisory Body, Dr John Momoh, said Nigeria must confront its challenges honestly while ensuring that its achievements, talent and resilience received adequate recognition.

Momoh acknowledged concerns over insecurity, corruption, economic hardship and declining public trust, but argued that the country’s reputation should reflect both its problems and its genuine progress.

He said owning Nigeria’s narrative did not mean concealing failures or relying on polished statements to create a favourable image, but presenting an honest, evidence-based account of the country’s experiences.

“Nigerians are too smart for that. We see through spin,” he said.

Momoh urged government institutions to demonstrate competence and accountability, stressing that public confidence depended on the consistency of policies, the quality of public services and the experiences of citizens dealing with state institutions.

The NRMG advisory body chairman warned that artificial intelligence was making it easier to fabricate voices, manipulate videos and spread misleading information, urging journalists and communication professionals to prioritise verification over speed.

“Let us be first with the truth, not first with the rumour,” he said.

Momoh maintained that criticism of Nigeria’s shortcomings was necessary but urged citizens at home and abroad to avoid needlessly damaging the country’s image.

“Let’s stop trying to announce our reputation. Let’s start earning it. Together,” he said.