Posted by Odofin Caleb on March 20, 2009 at 10:45am
So many controversies has erupted on this issue of rebranding Nigeria Project by the new information minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili. Many have said it is a mere waste of money, many said, it is a wrong thing to do now, many said it is a move to discredit all the good works done by the minister while she was the DG of NAFDAC. Amidst all these, allegations, comments and complaint, the Rebranding Nigeria Project has been launched today, 17th of March, 2009 and a total sum of N150M has been set aside for this project. The new brand is “NIGERIA, GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION”.Before I continue, I will just like you to know what branding and rebranding is. A brand is simply something that has become an identity of a particular product or service or company in simple language. When you think about a particular characteristic, you remember that company, for example when you think about yellow, you remember MTN, when you think about noodles, in fact you call it Indomie, talk of washing up detergent, we call it Omo, when you think about inconsistency, we remember NEPA, when you talk about NEWS, we remember Channels TV or CNN (thinking globally), when we talk about entertainment TV in Nigeria, STV comes to mind. This is a simple explanation of branding.Rebranding is now a situation where a particular company or entity wants to change what it stands for in the mind of people and many things are set in place to do this, it could be a simple change of Colour, Change of Logo (Like intercontinental bank did), change of use ( Omo rebrands with “dirt is good”). These changes are advertised until the new brand is impressed in the heart of the populace.The Brand Nigeria has been known for scam, fraudulence, unsafe business terraine, power problem and so on. This has made Nigeria to be disadvantaged in so many area globally. A Nigerian will not be allowed to arrive a country without a thorough security search which will even follow him about till he leaves that country; Nigerians will not be accepted by Paypal or Clickbank, the largest Payment processor and Digital Product bank respectively on the internet. Nigerians have been branded as corrupt and dangerous.Prof. Akunyili now decided to initiate Rebranding Nigeria Project which is aimed at branding Nigeria with a positive image. Many Nigerians have kicked against this move saying that, it is out of place for now, that concentration should be more on prevailing on the government to intensify its power project, intensify its fight against corruption, develop the economy and provide employment for the youths and food for the masses.I want to say, all what the people are clamouring for is correct and also the Rebranding Nigeria Project is also not out of place. Rebranding Nigeria Project is an external affair program, while development and fight against corruption is internal.The question we should ask ourselves as Nigerians is:Are there no honest people in Nigeria ? There are honest people in Nigeria.Are there no places in Nigeria that is safe for business? There are plenty of places in Nigeria that is safe for businessAre there no honest Nigerian Internet marketers and Information marketers? In fact, we are many!Are we not good people in Nigeria? We are good people in Nigeria.Are there no other countries that are having corruption problems in high places? Most nations do!Should we continue to be discriminated and deprived globally? No, we shouldn’t.This is the work of the Information minister to do, she will not be the one to fight corruption, she will not be the one to threat the power problem.I encourage Nigerians especially youths to support the Rebranding Nigeria Project. I believe in Nigeria, I believe in a new Nigeria. We are beginning to see it unfold. When it becomes good, we need a global acceptance to make Nigeria reach its full potential. So, let us REBRAND NIGERIA. To Non- Nigerians reading this post, if you have not met honest Nigerians, it means you are looking in the wrong places. You have at least met one here on this site.NIGERIA IS BEAUTIFUL!!!NIGERIA, GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATIONCheersOdofin Caleb www.youthsbusiness.com
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