CITIZENS COMPASS—The Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) on Wednesday, joined the rest of Nigerians to celebrate the inaugural Nigeria Reputation Day with a charge to embrace good conduct, integrity, and values.
NRMG gave the charge in an address delivered by its Chairman Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, fnipr, during the commemoration.
He quoted the prolific writer, Chinua Achebe, which said “A people’s greatness is measured not by wealth, but by the values they uphold,”
Badejo-Okusanya said: Today marks a defining chapter in our nation’s story, the inaugural Nigeria Reputation Day. It is a day for reflection and renewal; a day to recognise one of our greatest national assets: our name.
The theme of this year’s commemoration, “Better Nigeria, Better Reputation,” carries a truth that speaks to all of us, that the image of our country is shaped not by slogans or policies alone, but by the conduct, integrity, and values of each Nigerian.
Our reputation is not merely perception; it is power. It determines how the world receives us, how investors trust our markets, how our youth are treated abroad, and how proudly our children identify with their homeland.
Rebuilding Nigeria’s reputation, therefore, is not only about fixing systems, it is about restoring trust, strengthening character, and living with integrity.
Nigerians have shown, time and again, that we are creative, resilient, and unbreakable in spirit. Yet to fully harness these gifts, we must anchor them in honesty and accountability. Every act of fairness, every promise kept, and every truth spoken is a quiet brick with which we build a stronger, more respected Nigeria.
Yes, our challenges are real, but they are not insurmountable. Around the world, and within our borders, we have seen communities revived and nations renewed when people chose to act differently, persistently, and together.
To guide our collective journey, the NRMG identifies five pillars for building and sustaining Nigeria’s reputation:
Consistency – Acting with integrity not occasionally, but always.
Transparency – Being open in our decisions and accountable for outcomes.
Responsibility – Owning our actions and correcting our missteps.
Respect – Treating our people, institutions, laws, and environment with
dignity.
Excellence – Rejecting mediocrity and striving for higher standards in all things.
On this first Nigeria Reputation Day, we call on every Nigerian, at home and abroad, to take up the #BetterNigeriaBetterReputation# challenge: commit one act of integrity, live it daily, inspire others to do the same, and carry
Nigeria’s name with honour.
The M-Factor – Nigeria’s Cultural Power Grid
Our reputation is not built by policies alone, it is expressed daily through our
creativity, our culture, and our people. Across the world, Nigeria’s image is shaped by what we call “The M-Factor”, our five engines of soft power:
Music, Movies, Media, Minds, and Fashion.
These five dimensions are the pulse of the Nigerian story, vibrant, expressive, and deeply human:
Music – the rhythm of resilience, turning challenges into chants and hope into harmony.
Movies – our mirror and megaphone, projecting truth, humour, and courage with global reach.
Media – the voice that frames perception, building or breaking trust depending on how we use it.
Minds – our thinkers, innovators, and reformers – the conscience behind our creativity.
Fashion – the fabric of our identity, where culture meets confidence and design meets dignity When The M-Factor aligns with integrity, Nigeria becomes unstoppable.
Let our music carry messages of dignity as much as rhythm.
Let our films uplift as much as they entertain.
Let our media amplify truth, not toxicity.
Let our fashion express pride anchored in purpose.
And let our minds lead with clarity, conscience, and courage.
This is how a nation earns respect, when culture and character move in the same direction.
Our national image will not be defined by headlines alone, but by the quiet consistency of millions choosing what is right. Let this day be a turning point, a reminder that the reputation we desire begins with each of us.
From now on, Nigeria Reputation Day will be marked annually on 15 October as a national reminder that integrity and reputation are the foundations of progress. Each year, we will renew our shared commitment to honour, trust, and uphold the values that make Nigeria great.
Together, we can build a nation that commands respect, attracts opportunity, and reflects the greatness that lies within us all. The Nigeria Reputation
Management Group (NRMG) stands ready to lead, support, and collaborate with every Nigerian in restoring and protecting our national character.
