President Muhammadu Buhari has given new ambassadors-designate the task of projecting Nigeria’s positives ideals and contributions to the world to counter the taint of crime and corruption heaped on the country’s image by foreign elements.
He specifically urged them to change the narrative of Nigeria outside the country by playing up the positive values and outstanding contributions of Nigerians in the global arena.
The president made these comments yesterday, in Abuja, while declaring open an induction course organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Nigerian Career Ambassadors-designate who were recently cleared by the Senate.
He told them: “I want to emphasise your duty to change the narrative of Nigeria as seen by the outside world. For far too long, we have allowed Nigeria to be defined by others, always emphasising our negatives. To the average foreigner, Nigeria evokes 419 (advance fee fraud), terrorism, militancy, communal and religious clashes, insecurity, corruption and all our other faults.
“You have the duty to correct this narrative by taking the initiative to define and portray our country for what it truly is. We are a nation of 180 million vibrant, enterprising, hardworking, hospitable and peaceful people. We are a remarkable nation that has succeeded in harnessing our multiple diversities as strengths such that we are the leading country on the continent.
“Therefore, you will need to mobilise, sensitise and motivate all your staff so that, together, you engage with your host governments, the private sector and other segments of the society, to explain that Nigeria is much more than the negative image portrayed to them.”
President Buhari also enjoined them to leverage on the achievements of Nigerians within the country and in the diaspora.
“Think of people like Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Chinedu Echeruo, who founded Hotspot Application which he sold to Apple for over $1 billion.
“Think of Bayo Ogunlesi who runs over a billion-dollar infrastructure fund and is now adviser to US president-elect; and Jelani Aliyu, an accomplished car designer at General Motors.
“Indeed, these and other hardworking Nigerian professionals in the diaspora have never forgotten their roots and have been making significant contributions to their communities back home, and even to our economy through their huge remittances,” Buhari said.
He also urged the ambassadors-designate to stress Nigeria’s commitment to international peace and security through contributions “to nearly every UN peacekeeping initiative since 1960 when the country achieved independence. In addition, we are the stabilisers and shock absorbers of West Africa having helped to contain potentially de-stabilising developments in the sub-region.”
The president further advised them to sustain the work ethic characterised by the love of country, professionalism, excellence, integrity and honour associated with the Nigerian diplomatic tradition established in 1957 by the pioneers of the Nigerian Foreign Service, sometimes referred to as the “12 Apostles” and to also bequeath same to succeeding generations.
According to him, the ambassadors–designate must always be mindful of the national priorities that revolve around the economy, security, anti-corruption, good governance, agricultural transformation and infrastructural development, including rail, roads and power and use their roles as ‘principal representatives’ to build meaningful partnerships to attract foreign investments, new skills and technologies to the country.
President Buhari stressed the value of patriotism to the envoys, saying: “As Nigerian ambassadors, you must set the standard of putting Nigeria first in all your actions. You must show leadership, fairness and justice to all. Discipline, probity, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption must be your watchwords. You are expected to project the best image and traditions of our country in your conduct and all you do.”
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