Nigeria’s International Image: Gov AbdulRazaq’s Media Aide Emphasizes Role Of Media In Changing The Narrative.. Urges ‘Unity Of Effort’

The media has an important role to play when it comes to showing Nigeria in a good light and making the country earn a good international image, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye , has submitted.

 AbdulRazaq is the governor of Kwara state.

Doing this , Ajakaye noted, comes with numerous advantages which include economic growth and development.

‘National branding comes in here. What do we want our country to be known for? How do we want outsiders to perceive our country? Let us be clear: there is no society that is free of violent crime, corruption, and other social vices. However, what nations do is to manage their reputations and embark on aggressive country brand to gain global relevance. Nations create a perception about themselves. This is not the exclusive duty of a government. Indeed, as has been mentioned above, soft power is better projected through the third party, especially the media. A nation is not the property of a government; it belongs to everyone living within its space’ he said.

Ajakaye, who said this while delivering his keynote speech during the public lecture and awards ceremony organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kwara state council in Ilorin on Wednesday,  noted that getting ‘a good international image’ for the country  will require ‘unity of effort’  while submitting that  the media has a ‘special ‘ role to play  in this regard.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the programme was organized as part of the activities marking the chapel’s 2023 Press Week.

Mr. Ajakaye had ‘The Media and Nigeria’s soft power conundrum’ as his keynote topic.

Citing the Incredible India campaign, he added that this was launched in 2002 by the government of India and it had since produced desired results.

 ‘We have seen how Indians, irrespective of their beliefs and affiliations, have helped to carry the message to every corner of the world. Our television screen is blessed with different positive portrayals of India. And this has paid off as India has emerged from the ashes of poor reputations of its past. Essential Costa Rica is another great example of nation branding, as is Enterprise Estonia’ he said.

‘The effect of a nation’s brand on its economy cannot be understated. While a nation’s brand certainly affects its tourism industry, the brand also has powerful effects on the value and volume of the nation’s products and foreign direct investment, which have a direct effect on the nation’s GDP’ David Reibstein said in a publication titled ‘Improving Economic Prosperity through nation branding’.

Perception, which is a product of branding, means a lot in how a people are treated. It is immaterial that perception is not always the reality. 

Esteemed colleagues, I am urging all of us to take ownership of the Nigerian brand. Our population is surging every day; yet we have limited resources to get everything we need, especially human capital and foreign investments in our economy. But we cannot attract the right investments and human capital if we do not project Nigeria as safe and right for all. If all we do is to record the vilest videos of unsavoury development and splash same on the internet or make it the banner headline that everyone sees across the world, we will be telling the world that our country is not safe. We can tell ourselves about our problems and work together to solve them or make scapegoats of the culprits. What we should stop doing is to put constant spotlight on the downsides of our society. No other nation does that. 

Distinguished colleagues, deaths linked to violent crimes in Nigeria stood at 15,245 in 2022. In 2021, deaths associated with gun violence alone in the United States stood at 48,830, a 23% rise since 2019. But while Nigeria is often portrayed as a scary place to be, the United States is seen as a paradise where all is well 24/7. The difference is in the narratives that come with these statistics. While the US media establishments are quick to explain away the violence in their own country, sometimes calling it the acts of lone wolves or depression, the narrative here is often that this is happening because this is a failed system, ran aground by failed and corrupt governments. 

The image we carve for our country is what sticks to it. If we call it a failed state because of its imperfections and crises of nation building, which are hardly exclusive to it, the result we get is what we call it. All of the nations we call the bastion of democracy or glamorize with all positives have or have had their own failings or down moments — perhaps worse than ours — which they paper over with nice narratives and excuses in their pursuits of national branding. British author ,Otto English, aptly said this in his work titled ‘Fake History’:

‘The truth is that history is a contested space, and it always has been. It is a battleground of ideas, a place where different interpretations of the past jostle for supremacy’ Ajakaye added.

While noting that he has not asked the media to abandon its role as watchdog of our society, Ajakaye however urged journalists to note that what they publish will influence what comes to mind when someone talks about ‘Nigeria’ anywhere in the world.

‘Now, I am neither asking the media to abandon its noble roles of being the watchdog of our society nor saying it should renege its duty as the fourth estate of the realm. But I am asking that we strike a deliberate balance between being journalists who report developments and being patriotic citizens and stakeholders who, along with our generations unborn, are also affected by whatever happens to Nigeria.

If many cable networks in the ‘democratic’ west deliberately do not convey to the international audience everything that goes wrong in their society or frame such in manners that do not damage their national brand, I appeal that we also de-emphasize negative profiling of our country. I ask that we filter out to the global audience every little downside of our society. As the Yoruba people would say, ‘bi onigba ba se pe igba e, la o baa pe. Bi o nigba ba pe igba e ni akufo, a o pe ni akikara’ he added. 

In his opening speech, chairman of the correspondents’ chapel, Mr Abdulhakeem Garuba, said the role of the media  as a soft power in nation-building can never be overemphasized. 

He noted that in the contemporary global landscape, the media has emerged as a powerful tool with the ability to shape public opinion, disseminate information and influence social, cultural and political dynamics within nations. 

Also speaking , Commissioner for Commissioner for Communications, Hon Bola Olukoju , recognized the role of the media  in serving  as a bridge between the state and the world, shaping perceptions and influencing decisions while promising to nurture a collaborative environment where the media can continue to play a pivotal role in portraying Kwara in its true essence.

‘Our partnership with the media is invaluable, and I appreciate the opportunity to share thoughts on the crucial role the press plays in projecting the image of our great state, Kwara.

Kwara is a land brimming with potential, a place where opportunities for growth and development abound. To realize this potential fully, we must leverage the power of the media to showcase Kwara as a hub of possibilities, inviting investors to contribute to our collective progress.

The media serves as a bridge between the state and the world, shaping perceptions and influencing decisions. I urge you to embrace this responsibility passionately. Own the narrative of Kwara, ensuring that the stories told reflect the richness of our culture, the dynamism of our economy, and the warmth of our people.

Investors are drawn to places with promise, and through your lenses, Kwara should shine as a beacon of opportunities. Let us collaborate to present a narrative that not only attracts investments but also instills a sense of pride and ownership among our citizens.

As journalists, you are the storytellers of our time, chroniclers of the present shaping the future. I commend the Correspondents’ Chapel for its dedication to reporting the activities of the government beyond our state’s borders. Your work extends the reach of our narrative, fostering understanding and engagement.

 I challenge you to continue owning the state, to be stewards of truth and advocates for positive change. Together, let us ensure that the story of Kwara is told accurately, passionately, and with a commitment to the bright future that lies ahead.

Furthermore, I am pleased to announce that the Ministry remains committed to fortifying the bond with the media. As part of our ongoing initiatives, we have established a central platform for disseminating press releases from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This unified approach aims to streamline information flow, ensuring that the media has easy access to comprehensive and up-to-date materials.

Additionally, recognizing the importance of clarity and accessibility, we have instructed our press secretaries to include their contact numbers in all stories. This proactive measure is aimed at facilitating open communication and providing a direct line for media professionals seeking clarification or additional information.

By fostering transparency and accessibility, we hope to nurture a collaborative environment where the media can continue to play a pivotal role in portraying Kwara in its true essence’ she said.

Dignitaries at the event include Chairman , KAM Holdings, Alhaji Kamoru Yusuf , who was represented by Alhaji  Abdulfatah Adeyemi, Commissioner for Communications, Hon Bola Olukoju, Director of Information, Alhaji Ganiyu Atere,  and the Director, Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr. Kunle Akogun.

Executive Chairman of the Kwara state Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS, Shade Omoniyi,  Mr  Rafiu Ajakaye and  former spokesman for the Kwara state police command, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi were honoured with ‘award of excellence’ during the event-Team@orientactualmags.com
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