NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA
COMRADE
OSONDU CHUKWUEMEKA BENEDICT
(ACCOUNTANCY)
NIGERIA AND THE REBRANDING AGENDA; THE JOURNEY SO FAR
It is very necessary to clarify and
reinforce the basic need and concepts of development to rebranding Nigeria and the
journey so far...
The Nigeria
rebranding project
started on Tuesday, March
17th, 2009 and was launched by then minister of information and communication,
Prof. Dora Akunyili, who reposition Nigeria’s Health sector with also
the aim as the then minister of information and communication to rebrand the
society.
Rebranding is a spirit to re-inspire,
re-enforce re-orientate re-invent and re-kindle the patriotic spirit and likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole and great hero’s and heroine in their
different areas of human endeavors. The rebranding campaign and talks should
start from the ‘Top’ public officials who haves a moral duty to uphold the rule
of law at all times.
Rebranding means repositioning or
repairing or changing the general perception. Looking, America has one of the
highest crime rate in the word, the country successfully rebranded and is today
seen as an epitome of transparency socially politically and economically, with
the bad name and emergence of good political directions and workable the
executive can be, yet indeed there are still
a lot of things wrong with America just like in every society there are
corrupt businessmen and corporate players; with all the wrong and shortcomings
it is described as the rebranding statement known as perception’ which is the
mindset to change strong character of its leadership, honestly and good
governance coupled with the faith of the citizen in their leaders have made
America, European countries, Australia and Asian countries to be seen as the
best places to live, study and grow in the world.
However, countries like France, Dubai, India,
China,
Malaysia,
Singapore
and even Ghana
close to us have successfully rebranded and repositioned on the global
plain.
Furthermore, country like Singapore who is not up to Nigeria had it
independence in 1965, with a population of 2 million people and practically had
nothing, but through the advert of this great leadership of Yew known as the first prime minister,
Singapore emerged the 8th richest country in the world in 1997,
prime minister yew in his words said “my development and mindset to rebranding
my country in Asia has led me to conclude that we need good people to have good
government , However, no matter how good the system of government bad leaders
would bring harm to the people.
Also, according to the prime minister
he said “A precondition for an honest leadership is that candidates must not
need large sums of money to get elected, or it would trigger off the cycle of
corruption. In Yew administration Singapore as a country has no oil
refining centre. Does a country like Singapore, china, India, Dubai offers or serves
any branding or intended rebranding lesson for Nigeria? For sure , I am pleased
with the successful role Singapore and china has played for my country
(Nigeria) to be successful in the project of rebranding effort to occur,
there’s an urgent need for the leadership of our country to be focused, sincere
,desire, determine, discipline and diligently seen transparent in all strata of
the society and besides the political leadership should provide an enabling
environment for entrepreneurship, education and economical investment through
the provision of basic infrastructural amenities like electricity with among
the 7 points agenda, power and energy, food security, and agriculture, mass
transportation ,land reforms, education, job creation and security, economy
reform and security.
The afore mentioned targets may seem
daunting and unachievable in the short term to the government we Nigerians are
convinced and believing that they’re achievable with the word I tag 4’D’s Desires,
Determination, Discipline and Diligence with credible hook for the rebranding
meaning repositioning or re- directions in this over communicated era of
information age with the effective use of library and internet to both
communicate and advertise growth.
However having identified the
potential hooks for reinventing Nigeria, timing for unfolding the programmed is
also of utmost important programs like call for economical development,
football at grassroots level cultural and religious advertising, youth and
women empowerment just to mention but a few with all these empowerment the said
rebranding will start.
Oscar Wilde said democracy means
simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people and for the people.
Rebranding according to Prof. Utomi
on the third edition of verities exploration said if only Nigeria leaders
can invest both on Youths and Agricultural sciences and natural resources then
a step has been taking.
Nigeria does not have leaders but leadership
with just out spoken words. Note that the rebranding Nigeria project is not a one off
project but a continuous one that should involve the entire environment of Nigeria
society, the church, mosque, government, and clergy must contribute if only the
government is ready.
Lastly, if rebranding and 7 points
agenda must work out. Firstly, our leaders must have desires, with
determination and be discipline and work diligently to rebrand Nigeria and its
trauma.
Success is not a property of
Americans and Europeans and poverty is not an inheritage ofAfricans
(Nigerians), but a product of good mind and good leadership. Let our politics
be with principles with these there is a home for all It’s our home lets fight
it
Dauda M and Benedict Osondu
email me at osonduemekabenedict@gmail.com
07032376557
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