*’The Address Comes As Nigeria Works To Attract Investment, Deepen Its Global Partnerships And Change Long-held Perceptions Abroad’
*’A Country’s Image Is Built Daily Through Its People’s Conduct, How Well Its Public, Private Institutions Work, The Growing Power Of Digital Platforms To Spread Both Good And Bad Stories About Nigeria’
By Ademola Adegoke
Renowned leadership architect, management turnaround expert and
former Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s 2026 Nigeria Reputation Day Conference.
The event, being organized by the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG), a private sector initiative of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October, 2026.
Dr. Peterside’s address is titled ‘Own the Narrative: Shaping Nigeria’s Reputation Together’.
A statement from the organisers, signed by Chief Yomi Badejo and Hajia Lami Tumaka, and made available to People&Politics today, which disclosed these, added that Dr. Peterside will examine how citizens, institutions and technology each shape the national story.
The NRMG stated that Nigeria Reputation Day is an annual platform for stakeholders to examine the country’s image and agree on shared responsibility for how the nation is seen.
Dr. Peterside is expected to argue that a country’s image is not set only by government communication or foreign media, but “is built every day through the conduct of its people, how well its public and private institutions work, and the growing power of digital platforms to spread both good and bad stories about Nigeria.”
The keynote address comes as Nigeria works to attract investment, deepen its global partnerships and change long-held perceptions abroad.
In that climate, perception often affects economic outcomes as much as policy does.
Three panelists will discuss Peterside’s presentation: Prof Okey Ikechukwu, Ambassador Ivie Sabina Idakpaye and Omawumi Ogbe, while Tope Ojeme will moderate the session.
The panel brings together experience from academia, diplomacy and communications.
The discussion is expected to turn the keynote’s ideas into practical steps that citizens, corporate organisations and government agencies can take to protect and improve Nigeria’s standing.
In the statement, NRMG added that this year’s edition will be held online, pointing out that the conference is designed to “compel reflection on how each of our actions shape national reputation.”
According to the group, the online format will open the conversation to more Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
Participants from professional groups, the media, the public sector, civil society and students are expected to join.
The NMRG added that reputation is a national asset. Building it, it stressed, needs coordinated effort, credible institutions and responsible citizenship, not just reactive image-laundering.
The organisers urged stakeholders across all sectors to participate as, according to them, the conversation is relevant to every Nigerian who has a stake in how the country is perceived and valued around the world.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Peterside.
