The Federal Government has urged Nigerian public relations professionals to take the lead in reshaping Nigeria’s global image, countering disinformation, and crafting a unified national narrative anchored in pride, integrity, and innovation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, made the appeal at the retreat of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Tuggar, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said PR practitioners and reputation managers are custodians of Nigeria’s image and must move beyond routine institutional communications to frame the national story with clarity and patriotic purpose.
Stressing NRMG’s critical role in combating fake news, disinformation, and foreign information manipulation, the minister warned that the menace were eroding trust and destabilising democratic institutions.
He urged the group to establish a fact-checking hub, a diaspora media outreach plan, and a digital asset library to promote truth-driven communication.
The minister said: “The Nigeria Reputation Management Group is uniquely positioned to lead in reclaiming the narrative about Nigeria, correcting misrepresentations, amplifying our achievements, and promoting our leaders not as individuals alone but as custodians of democratic accountability and national progress.
“In your hands lies the power to inspire confidence, elevate national pride, and strengthen civic engagement. Equally, your role at the frontlines of the battle against fake news, disinformation, and foreign information manipulation is indispensable. These threats are not abstract; they erode public trust, inflame divisions, and weaken democratic institutions.
“Through rigorous fact-checking, ethical storytelling, data-driven messaging, and a steadfast commitment to truth, NRMG can serve as a bulwark against these corrosive forces.
“As Nigeria repositions itself on the global stage under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, your work becomes even more strategic. This is a time for media diplomacy for using the tools of communication to foster national unity, attract investment, strengthen bilateral relationships, and promote Nigeria as a confident and capable voice in the global conversation.”
Chairman of NRMG’s Body of Advisers, John Momoh, reiterated the point, stating that a nation’s reputation cannot be based solely on image but must be supported by actions and values that resonate worldwide.
“The world often hears of our setbacks, but rarely do we control the spotlight to tell a fuller story, one of talent, resilience, and possibility. Our task is to craft a unified, credible, and competitive narrative for Nigeria across diplomacy, governance, investment, and innovation,” Momoh said.
He noted NRMG’s immediate priorities, including establishing a permanent secretariat, piloting a national reputation strategy, and launching a coordinated rebranding campaign.
Drawing a metaphor from Nigeria’s recent sporting triumphs, Momoh added: “If our Super Falcons can rally from two goals down to defeat Morocco and unite the nation through focus and teamwork, then we, as historians of Nigeria’s image, must meet that same standard.”
President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, criticised Nigeria’s long-standing failure to tell its own story, saying this has allowed outsiders to shape negative narratives about the country.
Neliaku emphasised that Nigeria remains one of the world’s greatest nations by every measure,” citing the excitement of international stakeholders when Nigeria secured the hosting rights for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum.
“We have incredible stories of innovation, resilience, and achievement, but we under-tell them. For too long, others have programmed us to look down on ourselves, and unwittingly, we’ve accepted it. The time has come to say no.
“We must drive our own narratives,” he said.
