A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Atahiru Jega, has cautioned Nigerians against leaving the country despite the biting economic hardship being experienced today.
He noted that other nations had gone through more turbulent periods than Nigeria but came out stronger, expressing hope that the current situation won’t last forever.
Speaking at the “Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative” (URNI) launch in Abuja recently, the former INEC boss said that being a first-class citizen is more gratifying than being considered an alien in a foreign land.
“From the records, most people who leave this country end up regretting it. Most people leave here when they are young, but as they age—when they are 70 and above—they begin to think of returning home. This means that wherever you go, your mind still reminds you of your roots. It is one of the disadvantages of this Japa syndrome, as you call it. That is why it is important that we stay here and build the country together,” he said.
Recalling his active days in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the 80s and 90s, when several groups stood their ground to fight against military rule in the country, Jega expressed optimism that the challenges being experienced in Nigeria’s democracy will also be overcome someday.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Isa Oniru, acknowledged with regret Nigeria’s negative perception globally, including issues of insecurity and corruption, which he admitted are real and have regrettably led to harmful stereotypes that do not truly reflect the country’s character.
He lamented that social media content creators have continued to paint Nigeria in a bad light over time, disclosing that the agency has set machinery in place to ensure that social media content is created to portray the nation positively.
“We are working to make sure that we put a stop to foreign cartoons for our children. All cartoons, with time, must come with local content reflecting our cultural values as a way of instilling discipline in our children as a way forward,” he said.
The initiative aims to project the positive image of Nigeria by highlighting the country’s true strength, abundant human and natural resources, as well as its vibrant culture, to the outside world for a more balanced and positive image of Nigeria.
