The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has called on Nigerians, especially public relations practitioners to always present Nigeria in a positive light, emphasizing the need for inclusive development and nation branding.
Delivering a keynote address at the 35th Anniversary Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Federal Capital Territory Chapter, Abuja on Thursday, the Deputy Speaker stressed that growth without inclusion is merely a statistic, and that the country’s development should be felt by all citizens.
He also called on public relations practitioners to be strategic partners in nation-building, and to model leadership and build the nation’s brand through truthful narratives and inclusive policies.
Themed “Leadership for Inclusive Development and Nation Branding,” the Conference brought together stakeholders to discuss the role of leadership in promoting inclusive development and nation branding.
Kalu said: “We must own our story. If we do not define the Nigerian brand as one of resilience, innovation, and culture, others will define it for us through the
lens of our challenges.
“Before we sell Nigeria to foreign investors, we must sell Nigeria to
Nigerians. We need a renewed sense of patriotism that is not blind loyalty,
but a shared commitment to the Nigerian project. In an era of fake news
and information warfare, the NIPR must be the gold standard for truth,
managing the tension between free speech and national cohesion.
“Let me affirm this: The strongest brand Nigeria can project to the world is a united people. When we bridge the gap between the leaders and the led, when development touches the grassroots, when every Nigerian, regardless of tribe or tongue, feels a sense of ownership in “Project Nigeria”, that is when our brand becomes unbeatable.
“Therefore, I charge you today: do not just discuss leadership; model it. Do
not just discuss nation branding; build it, one truthful narrative, one strategic engagement, and one inclusive policy at a time.
“The House of Representatives stands ready to partner with you. Let us write a new chapter for our great nation”.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Hart at the event, the Deputy Speaker highlighted the legislative agenda of the 10th National Assembly, which is anchored on inclusion, and emphasized the need for structural reforms to devolve power and ensure development at the local level.
“The House of Representatives has anchored its legislative agenda on inclusion. We understand that exclusion is the greatest threat to our national brand. When youth feel excluded, we see
unrest. When regions feel excluded, we see agitation. When women feel
excluded, we lose half our productive capacity.
“It is because of this that we are actively “rebranding” governance through
structural reforms: As Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, we are prioritizing bills that devolve power, ensuring that development is not just federal but local. We are considering amendments for State Police to secure our communities, because a safe nation is an investable brand.
“We are revisiting the gender bills to open the space for women in governance. You cannot brand Nigeria as a modern democracy if women are shut out of the decision-making room”, Kalu said.
