Pivot Nigeria Conference has called for deliberate action by citizens, businesses, government, institutions and  media to rebuild Nigeria’s reputation and turn its positive attributes into economic and social value.
Victoria Uwadoka, Convener of Pivot  Nigeria and Lead Consultant  HighStakes PR Professionals, made the call at second edition of Pivot  Nigeria  conference held at La Scala, MUSON Centre, Lagos, with the theme, “The Reputation Dividend: Who Pays for Nigeria’s Perception?”, brought together personalities from the creative industry, business, media and communications sectors to examine how Nigeria’s reputation affects trust, opportunities, investment and national development.

She said Nigeria’s reputation should be treated as an asset linked to trust, credibility, business opportunities and national development.
Uwadoka said the platform was created to help Nigerians examine how they see themselves and how their actions contribute to the way the country is perceived. She urged citizens to live up to the values they claim to represent, stressing, “When people meet me, I am the Nigeria that they meet.”

She described reputation as a form of currency capable of producing either a positive or negative dividend, saying, “Trust is also an infrastructure. Perception is an infrastructure.” The converner called for greater confidence in locally developed products and services, while urging government to provide an enabling environment through effective policies, infrastructure and institutions.

Uwadoka also challenged young Nigerians to stop seeing themselves merely as “leaders of the future”, urging them to take responsibility for shaping the country.
“You are the leaders. This country is yours. You will make it what it should be,” she said, urging young people to “take your place, engage, contribute, push back” and move from commentary to meaningful contribution.

She also urged journalists and citizens to tell Nigeria’s positive stories with the same energy used in reporting negative developments, while acknowledging the need to report challenges and hold institutions accountable.
Speaking, Communications professional Adedoyin Jaiyesimi charged Nigerians to become more active citizens by participating in governance and holding public officials accountable rather than limiting their engagement to online criticism.

Jaiyesimi said Nigerians should adopt a solution-oriented approach when discussing the country’s challenges and focus on how identified problems could be addressed.
She urged citizens to participate more actively in governance, particularly during elections, stressing that accountability should begin at the grassroots level.

According to her, citizens should obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, attend relevant community and local government meetings and monitor the activities of public officials.
Jaiyesimi said Nigerians should demonstrate the same level of interest they show in other areas of national life in matters of governance.

She also called for a more positive mindset towards Nigeria, noting that citizens have a responsibility to contribute to improving the country rather than constantly criticising it.
Her remarks  stressed on responsible citizenship, national reputation and the need to move from commentary to meaningful action.

Earlier, veteran actor and filmmaker, Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, said Nigerians should distinguish between honestly confronting the country’s problems and condemning Nigeria without contributing to solutions.
He urged citizens to act as ambassadors of the country while demanding accountability from public officials.

RMD cited the international growth of Afrobeats and Nigerian businesses as examples of how local creativity, enterprise and persistence could influence global perceptions of the country.
He described Nigeria as a work in progress and called for patience, consistency and deliberate nation-building.

Also speaking, Head, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Rite Foods Limited, Ekuma Eze, said changing Nigeria’s narrative should begin from the family and extend to businesses, institutions and wider society.
Eze urged Nigerian companies to build products and services to international standards, saying globally competitive local businesses could attract investment, create employment and contribute to economic growth.

He said sustainable national development could not depend entirely on solutions coming from outside Nigeria, urging citizens and organisations to identify areas where they could make meaningful contributions.
A recent Business Administration graduate of Lagos State University, Olawuwo Eniola Olasubomi, urged Nigerians to change the way they speak about the country, saying citizens should acknowledge Nigeria’s challenges while also highlighting its progress.

According to Olasubomi, the major takeaway from the conference was the need for Nigerians to change their perspective and take personal responsibility for the country’s image.
“Starting from me, I should be able to say something good about Nigeria,” he said.

He charged young Nigerians to challenge negative conversations about the country and remember that other nations also face challenges.
Olasubomi, however, said changing Nigeria’s narrative must go beyond citizens, urging government to improve infrastructure, resources and policy implementation so that the positive image Nigerians project is reflected in people’s actual experiences.

Similarly, 300-level Philosophy student of the University of Lagos, Temidayo Ogunbemi, urged Nigerians to build a better national reputation through their actions, stressing that changing Nigeria’s narrative requires more than words.
Ogunbemi said her major takeaway was the need to “build a good reputation” for Nigeria by demonstrating positive values in everyday life.

She said Nigerians must take responsibility for the country’s image, noting that even small acts such as honesty in business and daily dealings could influence how Nigerians are perceived.
Ogunbemi acknowledged concerns about governance but said citizens also had a role to play in addressing the country’s challenges.

“It’s not only the government that corrupts; citizens too can corrupt,” she said, adding that Nigerians must ensure their conduct reflects the positive image they want the country to have.
Among those who graced the occasion were cultural icons and Goge Africa founders, Ambassadors Isaac and Nneka Moses, Digital Strategist Jamal-Robert Siakpere, alongside top executives and other stakeholders.

The high point of the conference was the panel discussions, which placed Nigeria’s reputation within the broader issues of citizenship, leadership, culture, business, media and economic development, with speakers advocating honest storytelling, responsible conduct and measurable action.