FG Unveils Strategies for Re-branding Nigeria
By Tokunbo Adedoja and Tunmise Adekunle
In its bid to promote the image of the country abroad and re-orientate Nigerians, the Federal Government yesterday unveiled strategies to be employed in achieving the objectives.
Explaning the strategies at a briefing of media executives in Lagos, Minister for Infor-mation, Mr. Chukwuemeka Chikelu, said the project would involve both the private and the public sectors.
Noting that the nation's image abroad has been dented by unscrupulous Nigerians and some foreigners, Chikelu said government was determined to ensure that Nigeria's image abroad improved.
The strategy, which has been divided into two parts, namely informational agenda and orientational agenda, he said, would involve both the print and electronic media, public relations practitioners and advertising agencies.
Also, a strong campaign against certain activities such as the Advance Fee Fraud (a.k.a 419) which has battered Nigeria image abroad would be embarked upon while positive aspects of the nation would also be highlighted for all to see.
As a way of achieving the project, Chikelu said government has identified some countries that are of strategic importance to the nation's interest and information about Nigeria's potentials would be made readily available in those countries.
One of the locations where such informational materials would be circulated, according to him, are the entry points in those countries such as airports.
Under the project, countries like the United States of America, Jamaica, Egypt, United Kingdom, South Africa, France and China are classified as primary centres. Also, countries like Canada, Belgium and Japan are grouped as secondary centres, while Brazil has been classified as tertiary.
The minister also said outstanding Nigerians that have made the country proud in various fields of endeavour would be given recognition and promoted as role models.
The minister added that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) would also be actively involved in the project that would include the promotion of the nation's values, resources and cultural heritage.
Describing Nigeria as a country with limitless potentials, Chikelu said the image problem created for the country by some unpatriotic Nigerians and greedy foreigners is responsible for the fears which some genuine investors entertain about their safety in the country.
He noted that most of the foreign companies operating in the country, have high returns on their investments, such that cannot be matched by those operating in other parts of the continent.
Describing Nigeria as an emerging market, the Minister said the country has the fastest growing telecommunication sector in the world.
Chikelu also said any investor that is not operating in Nigeria cannot be said to have entered the African market.
While allaying fears about what would become of the project after the expiration of the tenure of the present administration, the minister expressed confidence that the project would outlive the Obasanjo government. He added that unlike similar projects in the past, it would be packaged, not as a government initiative, but as a Nigerian plan.
President Olusegun Obasanjo had last week, during a presidential forum for captains of Industries and Commerce, disclosed that government has approved the inclusion of over N600 million in this year's budget for promoting the nation's image.
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