Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, has described National Reputation as a Strategic Asset in the global rating of countries. The Minister made the call during the Presentation of the Maiden Nigeria Reputation Perception Index Report 2025, an initiative of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at the National Assembly Library Complex in Abuja. The Minister was represented by the Spokesperson of the Ministry, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
Delivering the Minister’s goodwill address, Mr Ebienfa conveyed the Ministry’s strong endorsement of the Report as a landmark, evidence-based national instrument for understanding how Nigeria is perceived by key domestic and international publics. He underscored that national reputation has evolved into a strategic asset of direct relevance to foreign policy effectiveness, diplomatic credibility, investment confidence, and Nigeria’s standing within the international system.
The Minister’s message emphasised that the Index provides a structured platform for identifying perception gaps, managing national narratives, and aligning policy actions with international expectations. It further highlighted the importance of integrating reputation analysis into public policy formulation, diplomatic engagement, and coordinated national communication rather than treating image management as a reactive exercise.
The event, which was chaired by the Deputy Senate President, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, legislators, public relations professionals, academics, and development partners.
Discussions focused on the economic, diplomatic, and governance implications of national reputation, the methodological rigour of the Index, and the role of strategic communication in repositioning Nigeria as a credible, responsible, and forward-looking global actor.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to constructive collaboration with the NIPR and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s external engagements are informed by accurate perception intelligence, coherent messaging, and sustained institutional coordination, in support of national development and public diplomacy objectives.
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