Friday, October 29, 2010

Re-branding a Nation



Hi friends! Trust your week has been great! I took some time out to deal with some urgent matters, but i ve returned and you will be hearing from me often as it used be.

Somehow i felt like voicing my opinion on the Re-branding process going on in the nation, though not so much has been heard about it lately. Please read thru:


Re-branding is the act of repackaging a product, it’s usually an improvement on what already exist; there could be name or content change, it could just be external change only, re- branding takes place after you have scanned the market and found a need to. I know this question is rhetorical; do we need re branding in Nigeria? Is it outward or inward re branding? When I say outward, I mean, beautification of streets, improved transportation and social amenities? Without mincing word, outward re branding is good, it will create a good environment for investors, but the simple truth is we need more than just outward re branding.

“Rebranding” a nation begins first in the minds, paradigms and value systems of the people before the external approach. What we need urgently in this nation is inward re branding, this can start with you. My point is simple, if we must witness developmental change, we would need to work on ourselves and this can begin by purging ourselves of those vices we practice everyday, in leadership position, as traders, artisans, graduates, undergraduates, lecturers, editors, etc. in whatever position or state you are right now. You need to realize that a huge responsibility is upon you as to how this nation develops.

We need character re branding, we need to look inward and check those things we do that we always say, “don’t really matter”, “everyone is doing it” but in one way or the other affect your neighbour and invariably the nation; we need to purge ourselves of all corrupt practices no matter how little we think they are. Giving and receiving bribe, alteration of figures for personal aggrandizement, sexual abuse and harassments, the list goes on. We also need to drop some social vices like, , religious intolerance, youth restiveness, kidnapping and militancy, public officials looting the Treasury, people driving against traffic, littering the environment with dirt, throwing dirt out of the car. These are little foxes that spoil the vine.

When we have purged ourselves of these things and so many more not mentioned here, then the re branding we are talking about will be a success. Re branding starts by imbibing and acting on those values that that we are known by. Values like: honesty, communal love, unity, resilience, justice, hard work and truth. These values have been with us, but we act like they don’t exist.

Let me also point out here that re branding is not a spontaneous thing, its gradual, but must be consistent. If each week you pick up one of the values and decide to uphold and act on it, and your friend or neighbour picks one as well and act on it, with consistency, we will achieve our dream of a nation with “Good people, Great nation”. It is not so difficult if you see yourself as an integral part of the process of the re branding. But it’s going to be difficult if we stand aloof and expect the people who initiated the scheme to do it all alone.

You have a part to play in the re branding process, we all have parts to play. Let us put our heads and hands together in presenting this country as “GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION” to the world!

Change begins with you!