FG Calls for Image Reforms as Nigeria Reputation Index 2025 Is Unveiled
The Federal Government on Thursday called for deliberate reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s global image following the official unveiling of the maiden Nigeria Reputation Perception Index (NRI) Report 2025 in Abuja.
The report was presented at the National Assembly Library Complex, marking Nigeria’s first systematic, evidence-based effort to measure how the country is perceived by its citizens and key international publics across critical sectors.
Unveiling the report, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibril, described national reputation as a strategic asset that directly shapes economic opportunity, diplomatic influence, investor confidence, and social cohesion.
According to him, reputation is no longer driven by sentiment or propaganda but by measurable realities that reflect governance quality, institutional integrity, security, economic performance, culture, innovation, and social trust.
Senator Jibril said the Nigeria Reputation Perception Index offers the country both a mirror and a compass—revealing strengths and weaknesses while guiding policy direction and national reorientation.
He noted that the National Assembly, as the custodian of the people’s mandate, requires credible data of this nature to effectively perform its constitutional duties of lawmaking, oversight, and representation.
From a legislative standpoint, he explained, evidence-based insights such as those contained in the Index empower lawmakers to craft responsive legislation, strengthen institutions, and demand accountability where it matters most.
“Reputation is ultimately built on lived realities—the quality of leadership, the integrity of institutions, the consistency of public policies, and the everyday experiences of citizens,” Jibril said, stressing that improving Nigeria’s image must be treated as a collective responsibility.
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He called for collaboration across government, the private sector, civil society, the media, and citizens, noting that national reputation cannot improve without reforms that promote transparency, inclusiveness, economic resilience, and social justice.
The Deputy Senate President urged stakeholders to approach the report as a tool for learning and progress rather than blame, describing constructive self-assessment as a defining feature of mature democracies.
He added that the choice of the National Assembly as the venue for the unveiling underscored the central role of democratic institutions in shaping national reputation and translating perception into policy action.
The Nigeria Reputation Perception Index was developed by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations as a research-driven framework combining quantitative surveys and qualitative analysis to assess Nigeria’s image across governance, security, economy, institutions, and social development.
Speaking at the event, the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, described the Index as a historic intervention that moves national reputation from vague opinion into measurable evidence.
He said the report establishes a credible baseline for understanding how Nigeria is viewed and creates a tool for tracking progress over time rather than relying on assumptions or external narratives.
According to Neliaku, the Index exposes both areas of national strength and zones of reputational weakness, allowing policymakers to pursue reforms with precision rather than guesswork.
He noted that reputation now plays a decisive role in investment decisions, diplomatic engagement, tourism, and international partnerships, making it critical for Nigeria to deliberately manage how it is perceived.
Neliaku said the report equips government and institutions with clarity, accountability, and direction, adding that sustained engagement with its findings could help rebuild trust, strengthen governance, and reposition Nigeria more confidently on the global stage.
