Mind What You Post On Social Media About Nigeria, Says NIPR 

The Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) says the image of the country is at its lowest ebb under the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

Speaking at the 2021 Reputation Summit and Award Ceremony tagged, “Security Challenges In Nigeria: Implications For National Reputation And Stability” held at the weekend at Hilton Leisure Resort and Hotel Awka, chairman of the state chapter, Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna, said anybody talking about Nigeria at the moment without mentioning insecurity is missing the point.

Okunna said there are those who really don’t deserve the reputation they are enjoying at the moment.

She observed that there are too much propaganda in the country and many people are enjoying the reputation that they don’t deserve.

She equally stated that any person praising Nigeria now to high heavens is missing the mark because every right thinking person knows the country is not as good as it has the capacity to be.

Okunna said Nigeria already has a battered image because security wise, the country is not doing well. She said Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in the world and that Nigeria is also the poverty capital of the world.

According to her, leaders should stop blaming youths for their woeful failures instead they should strive to earn their patriotism and shun unnecessary rhetorics.

Also Revd. Father Boniface Anthony Obiefuna, a member of the Governing Council of the NIPR, observed that Nigeria appears to be at a zero point when it comes to reputation especially with respect to security issues and the seeming inability of the government framework to handle security challenges across the country.

Obiefuna, who said Nigeria has lost her credibility and reputation, noted also that it behoves on all and sundry to protect the image and reputation of the country and be mindful of what they post in the social media about Nigeria while advocating entrepreneurial skills amongst youths rather than indulging in get-rich-quick mentality.

Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented on the occasion by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C.Don Adinuba, said Nigeria is not breaking up, instead, it is a miracle waiting to happen.

Obiano said Anambra state has enjoyed a tranquil atmosphere and has remained the safest state in the past seven years which he said has led to the sprouting of industries and companies across the state thereby creating employment opportunities for citizens.

Chairman of the 2021 NIPR Reputation Summit and Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Nze Uche Nworah stated that the need to maintain and sustain a positive reputation can not be compromised because he believes that a good reputation attracts investments and creates tourism potentials.

Nworah also said that Anambra state has been peaceful in the past seven years and that Governor Willie Obiano has maintained good relationship with the people of the state.

On her part, the summit speaker, Prof. Angela Njideka Nwammuo, who delivered a lecture on the theme of this year’s summit observed that the level of insecurity across Nigeria is alarming and it is clear that the government can no longer handle the situation.

Nwammuo said the social media is awash with stories of insecurity across Nigeria but the issue remains what is the way forward out of the current quagmire using the public relations approach ?

The erudite summit speaker however recommended the need for managers of the country’s corporate image to think globally but act locally. She said PR strategies should aim at attitudinal change with emphasis on restoring eroded values and norms of the society.

According to her, attitudinal change can be achieved by starting all over again from the smallest unit of the society called the family. Prof. Nwammuo said PR practitioners and indeed every citizen of Nigeria have a role to play in restoring the lost glory of a country once known as the giant of Africa and also step up online reputation management of Nigeria.