Nigeria in the last twenty years has witnessed an abysmal rating among the courtesy of nations. Military leadership and poor democratic institutions have tarnished Nigeria’s image abroad. The rottenness of the system caused by the high level of looting has practically left all sectors of the country in ruins. Various growth indices show that Nigeria is at the bottom rung of the ladder. For example, the unemployment rate has been high in recent years, caused by acute power outages and the inaccessibility of capital for entrepreneurs. Manufacturing companies have been shutting down every year producing millions of people. The crisis in the Niger Delta that is in sight is damaging the image of the country abroad. Advance fee fraud has been on the rise, with foreigners being the majority of the victims.

With the slightly fanciful image of Nigeria portrayed; If you look deep down, you will notice that all the negative stories that have been told about Nigeria are either half true or not true at all. The current government does not sleep at all. All three levels of government have had a more recent impact on their constituencies. The Federal Government through its seven-point agenda has tried a bit to instill sanity in politics. Its parastatals like: National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), etc. they have been at the forefront in fulfilling their mandate.

At the state level, Governors have tried to fulfill their campaign promises. States like Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Anambra have been models for other governors. Take Lagos for example: in the last three years, the chaotic nature of Lagos has turned into a semi-London. Lagos Island is neat, developed and radiant, Oshodi also sports a new look, along with many other cities within the metropolis. In two years of leadership, Governor Fashola has paved many roads, equipped schools, provided piped water, provided ICT centers, etc. road construction etc.

With this recent development, suffice it to say that Nigeria is on the verge of reform. For Nigeria to reposition its position in the nation’s courtesy, its image must be whitewashed. This brings up an interesting term ‘Rebranding’. Rebranding in layman’s parlance is repackaging a product. A good product to improve its billing will have to change brands to attract more customers. Nigeria, once a bad product, needs to rebrand to improve its image.

Recently, the Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, announced the Government’s rebranding strategy. The project was launched by President Umar Yardua and allocated $1 million. The announcement generated a lot of media buzz, resulting in media chats, forums, and gossip. Some people supported while others did not.

Professor Dora Akunyili, in defense of the project, acknowledged that the country’s image was in ruins. As the government’s chief image maker, she wants to restore the former good name Nigeria enjoyed. Her intentions are not to sing praises, but to be born out of her desire to elevate the image of the country she loves so much. Judging from her success in her previous appointment (NAFDAC DG), she will realize that she bears a strong resemblance to her country. . As the CEO of NAFDAC during her extensive travels abroad, she came to the conclusion that there was no place like home for her.

Since the Rebranding project began, she and her team have been spreading the message locally and in the diaspora. Everyone has to know some good things about Nigeria: good weather, smart people, low taxation, good tourist attractions, etc. She in her campaigns has been urging Nigerians to believe in themselves. She said her main duty is to encourage reporters and media organizations to project the good things about Nigeria, while at the same time responsibly reporting the negative aspects of the system.

Another of his reasons for the Rebranding project is for the country to use its strategic position in West Africa. She posited that the rebranding will make Nigeria a hub for business activities. There are many things that foreign investors can invest their capital in: agriculture, health, road construction, ICT, telecommunications, etc.

At this juncture one might wonder if this grandiose project will fall to the ground like the ‘Heart of Africa’ project. Let me give you a short lecture Professor Dora Akunyili has never failed in any of her activities in her life. She has lived a supernatural life. She is a successful mother, a successful teacher, a successful administrator, etc. It is interesting to know that at this moment she is the most famous woman on the planet earth, she has more than a thousand awards in her kitty. With this luck on her side, I think the project will succeed.

The rebranding project, if carried out correctly, will attract grants, loans, technical assistance, goods, etc. to the country. foreign. The most populous black nation will rise again. We need Nigeria more than Nigeria needs us. We should think about what we can contribute to Nigeria than what we will receive from it. It is not by packing our suitcases to Europe or the United States that our economic problems will be solved; rather it will end if we spend our time pursuing qualitative things.