Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that Nigeria’s global reputation, though bruised by negative perceptions, was “not a verdict but a mirror”.
He said this at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026 in Abuja on Tuesday where he demanded an urgent national action.
According to him, Nigerians must be deliberate about owning and projecting its successes rather than surrender the narrative to critics.
Idris, who was reacting to the newly unveiled National Reputation Perception Index, which placed Nigeria at 35.2 per cent in a low-trust band globally, said such reports should spur reform, honest communication, and collective responsibility, not despair.
“Responsible nations must have the courage to look into that mirror and act swiftly,” he said.
He described reputation as a strategic national asset that must be deliberately built, insisting that Nigeria must take ownership of its narrative instead of allowing critics to define it.
While acknowledging ongoing challenges such as insecurity and economic pressures, Idris said the country had recorded measurable progress that rarely received international attention.
He cited improved foreign reserves, easing inflation, stabilising economic growth and renewed investor confidence as key developments deserving global amplification.
“If reputation matters in attracting investment, then Nigeria’s exit from the FATF grey list was a huge signal. Yet we hardly celebrated it.
“The same countries that sometimes criticise Nigeria still engage it robustly for business,” he said.
He recalled that the United States, which had previously raised concerns about religious freedom in Nigeria, committed its highest-ever healthcare investment to the country in December.
He described it as evidence that Nigeria’s reality often contradicts its portrayal, urging Nigerians to beware of critics.
“Don’t celebrate criminals. Celebrate our gallant soldiers who are dying daily so we can live and gather like this. Protecting Nigeria’s image is a constitutional duty of every citizen,” he said.
He also commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for producing the country’s first comprehensive Reputation Perception Index.
According to him, the index is the product of over seven years of research and a foundation for evidence-based reputation management.
He highlighted some reforms under President Bola Tinubu, including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, tax reforms, expansion of primary healthcare with new oncology centres, infrastructure development and education access through student loans and venture capital grants.
He said the government alone cannot rebuild Nigeria’s image without professionals, institutions, the private sector, and citizens working together.
“Ultimately, reputation is earned through action, not slogans. Policy must meet purpose, and communication must reflect truth,” he said.
Earlier, former Lagos State Governor and former Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, called for systematic training of Nigeria’s ambassador-designates before their deployment abroad.
He warned that unprepared envoys weakened the country’s diplomatic and reputational standing urging Idris to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to institutionalise such preparation.
He said ambassadors must be equipped with up-to-date practical knowledge about Nigeria’s economy, governance and investment climate, including basic facts, such as the time required to register a business.
“They must have handy information to really represent us. Training should not be optional; it should be continuous,” he said.
Drawing from his experience in public office, Fashola stated that Nigerian ambassadors should focus on attracting investors to visit Nigeria rather than asking ministers to travel abroad to market the country.
“Those who want to do business must come and see where we live. Slides cannot replace experience,” he said.
He advocated aggressive use of global meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) to drive tourism, investment and economic growth.
He also stressed that hosting events, sports competitions, and cultural concerts in Nigeria would help dismantle myths and allow visitors to leave with authentic experiences.
Furthermore, he identified law and order as the single most important reputational asset Nigeria should strive for, stating that investors prioritise predictability, contract enforcement, and respect for rules.
“A law-abiding reputation leads to other good things. It’s what any serious due diligence begins with,”he said.
According to him, national reputation is shaped by everyday conduct, from obeying traffic lights to respecting time commitments.
He cautioned Nigerians against conflating dissatisfaction with government policies with hostility towards the country itself.
“We must criticise the government without throwing our country under the bus. Governments will change, but Nigeria will outlive all of us,” Fashola said.
Also speaking, President of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, announced that the institute had been ranked the world’s leading public relations association by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, ahead of counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Neliaku said the recognition validated years of reform and positioned Nigeria ahead of hosting the 2026 World Public Relations Forum in Abuja, which is expected to attract professionals from more than 126 countries.
Participants at the summit agreed that rebuilding Nigeria’s reputation would require discipline, unity and sustained action, aligning national narratives with measurable progress at home.
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