The Pivot Nigeria Conference has urged citizens, businesses, government, institutions, and media to take deliberate action to restore Nigeria's reputation and turn its positive attributes into economic and social value. The conference, held at La Scala, MUSON Centre, Lagos, brought together personalities from the creative industry, business, media, and communications sectors to examine how Nigeria's reputation affects trust, opportunities, investment, and national development.
Victoria Uwadoka, Convener of Pivot Nigeria and Lead Consultant at HighStakes PR Professionals, emphasized that Nigeria's reputation should be treated as an asset linked to trust, credibility, business opportunities, and national development. She created the platform to help Nigerians examine how they see themselves and how their actions contribute to the way the country is perceived. Uwadoka urged citizens to live up to the values they claim to represent.
According to Uwadoka, reputation is a form of currency capable of producing either a positive or negative dividend. She called for greater confidence in locally developed products and services, while urging the government to provide an enabling environment through effective policies, infrastructure, and institutions. Uwadoka also challenged young Nigerians to take responsibility for shaping the country, saying, "You are the leaders. This country is yours. You will make it what it should be."
Communications professional Adedoyin Jaiyesimi charged Nigerians to become more active citizens by participating in governance and holding public officials accountable. She urged citizens to participate more actively in governance, particularly during elections, and stressed that accountability should begin at the grassroots level. Jaiyesimi also called for a more positive mindset towards Nigeria, noting that citizens have a responsibility to contribute to improving the country.
Veteran actor and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo said Nigerians should distinguish between honestly confronting the country's problems and condemning Nigeria without contributing to solutions. He urged citizens to act as ambassadors of the country while demanding accountability from public officials. Mofe-Damijo cited the international growth of Afrobeats and Nigerian businesses as examples of how local creativity, enterprise, and persistence could influence global perceptions of the country.
Ekuma Eze, Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods Limited, said changing Nigeria's narrative should begin from the family and extend to businesses, institutions, and wider society. Eze urged Nigerian companies to build products and services to international standards, saying globally competitive local businesses could attract investment, create employment, and contribute to economic growth.
The conference attendees, including Olawuwo Eniola Olasubomi and Temidayo Ogunbemi, emphasized the need for Nigerians to change their perspective and take personal responsibility for the country's image. They urged citizens to acknowledge Nigeria's challenges while also highlighting its progress and building a better national reputation through their actions.
Key points
- The Pivot Nigeria Conference called for collective action to restore Nigeria's reputation and turn its positive attributes into economic and social value.
- The conference urged citizens, businesses, and government to work together to create a positive image of Nigeria.
- The attendees emphasized the need for Nigerians to take personal responsibility for the country's image and build a better national reputation through their actions.
