By Tony Edike
ENUGU—MINISTER of Information and Communication, Prof Dora Akunyili has called on religious leaders in the country to participate actively in the ongoing campaign by the Federal Government to instill a renewed spirit of patriotism in Nigerians through attitudinal change.
Akunyili who made the appeal while delivering a lecture at the 14th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, held at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, regretted that the negative perception about Nigeria was foisted on the people by the unpatriotic activities of a few.
She said that the first stage of re-branding Nigeria project would focus on engineering changes, which includes attitudinal changes, re-orientation, revival of our cultural values and installation of renewed spirit of patriotism and hope in all the citizens of the country.
In her paper entitled, “Re-branding: The Role of the Church”, the Minister lamented that Nigerians were unfairly regarded as fraudsters, criminals and a country where nothing works, pointing out that these anti-social vices were foreign to our indigenous culture.
She maintained that religious leaders have vital roles to play in our quest for a proper re-branding of Nigeria, adding that government alone will not succeed in its effort to reposition the country without the cooperation of the led.
“For a country that is undoubtedly set on the path of greatness, a pervasive negative perception about her cannot be allowed to continue.
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i have thought of this word used by dora akunyili,to quote a change in nigeria is completely wrong we nigerians are not fake drugs,so dora look for somethin else to express ur self and not rebranding again:
Nigerians are not ‘unfairly regarded’ as fraudsters and currupt by foreigners, we are. Pastors and self styled men of God are neck-deep in this evil and no amount of re-branding can help it.
Re-branding will only work when the mojority of scam letters all over the world stop coming from Nigerians and the conutry is associated with things positive and progressive.
Both the explosion of curruption and men of God in Nigeria points to one and the same thing; the decay of the society. Where companies are folding up and churches are buying up their premises will only lead to unemployement and curruption. People are being encouraged to spend their time and money on the churches. Churches are one of the biggest evils in the land.
i do have problem with the concept of re-blanding itself. It gives the impression that we are unconfortable with the label not the content. While I understand the message of the honourable minister and i quite support her on that and encourage her to go on, at the same time, I feel the conceptual articulation is poorly informative on the essence of the policy. both the content and the container need overhauling. The way the leaders conduct themselves in office also influences the level of trust and patroitism on the part of the led. if there is anything that damages nigeria’s image abroad, it is official corruption. the impression that if the leaders could conduct themselves in this manner, those following them could hardly be better. Leaders should be at the vanquard of image change. The image of the minister herself is an examplary and we would be happy seeing her wooing her coleagues to her wing.
Dora Akunyili, Another “opportunist”
MADAM YOU WORKED SO HARD TO GET THERE,BUT THE CONCEPT ‘RE-BRANDING NIGERIA’ WILL STAIN YOUR HARD EARN REPUTATION.THE RE-BRANDING RE-ENGINEERING SHOULD BE A TOP DOWN APPROACH.THE CHANGE CAN ONLY HOLD SWAY IF ITS GENUINELY STARTS AT THE TOP.PLS DISCUSS WITH YOUR PRESIDENT AND COME UP WITH AN OVERHAULING PLAN.
Madam, selling your re-branding pills to the Anglican Synod could be likened to “trying to preach the Gospel to the Pope.” These Bishops have, on their parts, been playing their parts fervently.
But for messages and sermons from the likes of these bishops one wonder what life would have been like in the country in the hands of your colleagues occupying the seat of government.
Our problem is not the lack of giving spiritual direction by the religious leaders but the outright disregard and rejection of the divine message by those whom they are meant for in the society – beginning from the head to the least – from government to the governed.
The insincerity that have dogged the business of governance in this nation, evidential in the absolute corruption and neglect public infrastructure by public office holders have rubbed of on the entire society. To cure this morass, need concerted efforts by all. Whatever happened to esteemed maxim of “crime and punishment?”
The absence of apportioning some forms of reprimand to offenders, in this country, especially those doing the biddings of their masters in the corridors of power makes exposes our system to ridicule. The case whereby notorious criminals and corrupt leaders walk the streets free give the impetus to the entire populous that crime pays.
First purge crime and criminals from the society. Never attempt to shield them or allow them to occupy exalted seats on governance as it has seemingly become the norm. What do you suppose to brand an election? Yet those known to have committed this act against the land presently occupy important offices. What about political assassins, drug barons, and acclaimed cultists to mention few?
We implore government to first remove the logs in their eyes before attempting to remove the rafter from the eyes of the populace of this nation whom they have short-changed for too long.
I’m so sorry for Dora Akunyili because she’s allowing herself to be dragged into the mud. It bits my imagination that a professor does not know that re-branding is a concept that speaks for itself.
For instance, Lagos state do not need to campaign before lagosian and indeed the world feels the radical development going on in the state.There is absolutely nothing working at the federal level, power sector has collapsed, road network has become dead trap, porous security, increasing rate in crime, yet the professor feels that rebrading by wearing face cap and t-shirt will solve all these problems.
I only pray that she realises what she’s doing on time before she allow her integrity to be soiled.My sincere advice for you, mrs Dora, resign ok!
Former NAFDAC Chieftian you have done a patriotic and noble job during your tenure as the NAFDAC boss, many wish they would retain you, but the reverse is the case, ofcourse they will not, because they saw you are doing what the people needed at that time, Now you are in the communication segment, I will advise you that the re-branding should start from the top, once Nigerians are given what they desire re-branding will take care of itself, take for instance, in your Executive council meetings press them to make sure they fix the “power supply ” problem, eating deep in the peoples lives, just imagine; Oil-rich Nigeria produces less than 3,000 megawatts of electricity for its 140 million people, while South Africa produces more than 43,000 megawatts of electricity for a population a third the size, what type of leaders do we have, are they possessed or did they turn a blind ear and eyes to the yearnings of the populace, as soon as peoples need were met, re-branding will take its place, so your campaign should be concentrated much on the top level, let them know that they hold the key to the success of this re-branding of Nigerian by not meeting up with the peoples demand, just a little impact on the people and every thing will turn out fine, fix the electricity problem, fix good roads, a good security network, employment, equipe and encourage our police, organise conferences for them, honour them when they perform well.
Auntiy Akunyili, I will encourage you to carry your good campaign to the Federal level and know if they will hear you out.
Love live Nigeria !