Branding Nigeria

The fresh attempt to remand Nigeria

Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear native land!
Nigeria is at a crossroads again, as we are wont to find the country every now and oft. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti must have indeed chosen a wrong time to die, most because all the things he spoke and sang about, have, or are coming to pass. Now we all live to see what his prophesy is turning to.

The freshest of sundry attempts to ridicule our dear country Nigeria has just been unleashed. Now, we need to take our minds away from the fact that their supposed tripod stand that was to serve as platform for this exercise didn’t come with a third leg. Or could this just be another attempt to regrind Nigeria? If you’re re-branding, what will your proposition, positioning and identity be? No-one has yet told us; or aren’t they applicable in this instance?

My wonderful people had already branded themselves Naija, taking the initiative where the leadership lacked. And we’ve tried to bring about some cohesion in this contraption; trudging and hoping things would sort themselves. Then came the government, again! We must re-brand Nigeria!

Jamaica, Brazil, India, and the UAE, are known peculiarly for something, without having to formally brand or try to re-brand themselves. And these attributes differentiate them in the international comity, and drives the rest of their relationship with other countries. Think about it, whenever you mention any of these countries, what is that item that quickly comes to mind? Jamaica, Brazil, India, and the UAE; Reggae, Football, Movies and Tourism? Juxtapose this against Nigeria, what immediately comes to the mind of a foreigner on hearing the name of this held down country? Use your mind, and furnish only yourself the result, quietly.

So they finally concluded the branding exercise? Good! Now, that’s the word. Good! NIGERIA: Good people, Great Nation! Well, it sounds very nice, even if only rhetoric, or generic. After all, to be great, you first must...