In a significant stride toward bolstering Nigeria’s global image, Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), inaugurated the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) in Abuja on November 24, 2023.
The assembly of 23 distinguished members, helmed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, signifies a pivotal step in enhancing Nigeria’s reputation on the international stage.
During the inauguration, President Neliaku underscored the paramount importance of the NRMG, emphasizing its multifaceted mandate.
The group, born out of a steadfast commitment to elevating Nigeria’s reputation, is tasked with crafting sustainable strategies operational modalities, and identifying critical national assets that influence Nigeria’s standing globally.
A key announcement made by President Neliaku was the NRMG’s responsibility for reinstating the annual “Nigeria Reputation Summit,” slated to commence in 2024.
This summit, set to become the flagship event of the NIPR, aims to magnify Nigeria’s reputation management initiatives on a global scale.
Furthermore, the NRMG has been entrusted with formulating recommendations for the proposed Nigeria Reputation Trust Fund—a financial mechanism dedicated to fortifying initiatives to enhance the country’s global reputation.
Highlighting the pivotal responsibilities of the group, President Neliaku emphasized its mandate to advise the NIPR Council on matters pertinent to Nigeria’s reputation.
Moreover, he said the NRMG is poised to curate essential content concerning Nigeria’s reputation, strategically deploying this reservoir of information in alignment with the group’s overarching objectives.
He added that the group is geared to undertake specialized assignments to attract professional, reputational, and financial value to the Institute.
The esteemed 23-member group comprises a constellation of distinguished personalities, including Ambassador Zubairu Dada, former Foreign Minister of State; Yomi Badejo, President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA); and Professor Kate Omenugha, a luminary in the field who previously served as the Commissioner for Education in Anambra State.
Experts say the inauguration of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group is a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s quest to fortify its global image, with the NRMG poised to spearhead initiatives to elevate the country’s standing on the international platform.
