The Joint Committee on Information and Media of the Senate and House of Representatives yesterday took the Information and Communications Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, to task on the sources of funding for “the re-branding Nigeria ” project.

The committee which engaged her at a public meeting at the National Assembly  said it observed that no provision was made for the project in this year’s budget and wondered how she intended to drive the proccess. 

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Iformation and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, said: “We are at pains because we just finished the budget session and you are supposed to interface with the committee in the House and in the Senate but at no point during this consultation did we have project re-branding and the issue of sourcing fund for the project would be a very key issue.

“We want to be assured that we get assured about some of these issues, where the money will come from and the content of what you are going to do,” he said.

His counterpart in the House, Hon. Dino Melaye said: “We will want the minister to tell us how she intends to re-brand Nigeria. I want you to tell us the parameter for re-branding.” He asked further:

“What happened to “Heart of Nigeria” project? Why re-branding? How much was appropriated for the Heart of Africa in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and how much was spent?”

Melaye said that they would be able to see reasons to support current efforts to re-brand Nigeria if they were furnished with details of what happened to the “Heart of Africa project.”

In her respose, Akunyili disclosed: “We intend to source money from the public sector, which is government, private sector and the people of Nigeria. Re-Branding Nigeria is not a jamboree for spending money. We intend to account for all funds.”

She told the joint committee that the “Heart of Africa” project, which was designed to shore up Nigeria ’s image under the previous administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, gulped a whopping N1.05 billion.

She said that the project was a failure, which was why, according to her, it had become imperative to embark on “the Re-brand Nigeria” initiative.
She said that: “In 2007, N750 million was appropriated for the “Heart of Africa” project,” adding that, “In 2008, it was N308 million and N299 million was spent and ‘Heart of Africa ’ is still going on.”“This year, N150 million was appropriated. ‘Heart of Africa ’ still owes N19.5 million, which we hope to pay from the money appropriated in this year’s budget because government is a continuum,” she explained.“’Heart of Africa’ did not work; it is no longer news that it did not work. “Heart of Africa” is a name that was first answered by Malawi .  Many other African countries like Congo, all those countries in Central Africa have been laying claims to being the Heart of Africa.“Heart of Africa was first launched overseas; so it suffers disconnect from the Nigerian people.  I believe that Nigerian people are very intelligent, ingenious people to evolve their own slogan instead of fighting for slogans with small African countries.“For the re-branding to succeed and not go the way of others we have to do things differently.

It is no news that Nigerians all over the world have been painted with the same brush by the international community and that Nigeria is a country where nothing works.“This negative perception about Nigeria was actually foisted on us by the international community and it stuck with us.  We know that this is not true.  We know that we have good Nigerians', she said.

OMO IBO:

why do Nigerians have issues with what Dora is doing or trying to do?
has she all of a sudden become one of so many Recycled Money-grabbing Old Nigerians?
Shouldn't her legacy as the former NAFDAC boss buy her some trust and breathing space?

Maybe she does not want to be associated with a corrupt project hence, the Re-branding.

Im not trying to defend her but i believe she needs some space to her job. if she fails then she can face the firing sqaud

OMO IBO:

Nemeziz9ja,
what if this re-branding is just what Nigeria needs to kick start the economy.
what if this re-branding brings good deeds?

I don't how true your allegation on Dora is but i'd pick her ahead of any of the present and past officials. She seems to be doing some sort of work like some of the tossers we've had

must_a_far:

what if she doesnt have a clue about what her job description entails?
what if she is out of her comfort zone and out of her depth?
what if her hands are tied and she really cant do what she has intended?
what if she is simply a pawn in the whole game?
what if her nafdac runs were simply a fluke?
what if she is too out of touch with nigeria and its numerous yams and issues?
what if she is bored and figures her rebranding swan song would make it seem like she is working and thus wont get booted at the next reshuffle?

Kobojunkie:

roflmao!!! WHAT IFs galore!!

must_a_far:

yes o, dats the slogan nairalanders are presenting for the rebranding bullManure championed by their one and only premadona, cant make a wrong choice dora

Theft mars Nigerian 're-branding'

The handset was swiped as Isawa Elaigwu entered the conference centre
Thieves stole a mobile phone belonging to a member of a new team campaigning to improve Nigeria's image as a country riddled by crime and chaos.

Isawa Elaigwu told the launch of the "rebrand Nigeria" campaign he noticed the phone was gone minutes before he was due to address the event.

"As I was entering the gates of the conference centre I noticed I had been pick-pocketed," he said.

"This is just the sort of thing we need to fight against".

Nigeria is often seen abroad as a violent and chaotic place, full of people who use e-mail scams to cheat money out of unwitting victims.

'Most dangerous'

Its commercial capital Lagos recently topped a poll of the world's most dangerous places to work.

The Information Ministry hopes to change this bad reputation with a public relations campaign.

Nigeria cannot wait until its solved all its problems before addressing its image

Dora Akunyili
Information Minister
On Tuesday the ministry unveiled a new slogan "Nigeria: Good people, great country", and a logo.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili, who made her name as a fierce campaigner against fake drugs, said the country's reputation was unfair.

"We must shed this toga that says we are untrustworthy, unreliable and ungovernable," she said.

She admitted that the country did have real problems with poverty, corruption and infrastructure, but that wouldn't stop them trying.

"Some people say: 'Why rebrand now?' Nigeria cannot wait until its solved all its problems before addressing its image."

Better life

A better image would improve tourism and encourage businesses to invest in Nigeria, she said.

As Nigerian's own perception of themselves improved they would be less inclined to commit crime, she said.

The previous administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo had a similar campaign to improve Nigeria's image called "Heart of Africa".

Local media reported that the government spent $5.6million (£4million) on it in one year.

It was scrapped by Mrs Akunyili last year.

The minister last week promised the National Assembly the "good people great country" campaign will cost a lot less, and spending will be transparent.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7948864.stm

Kobojunkie:

roflmao!!!!

Isawa Elaigwu told the launch of the "rebrand Nigeria" campaign he noticed the phone was gone minutes before he was due to address the event.

"As I was entering the gates of the conference centre I noticed I had been pick-pocketed," he said.

"This is just the sort of thing we need to fight against".

Nigeria is often seen abroad as a violent and chaotic place, full of people who use e-mail scams to cheat money out of unwitting victims.

'Most dangerous'

Its commercial capital Lagos recently topped a poll of the world's most dangerous places to work.

The Information Ministry hopes to change this bad reputation with a public relations campaign.

Nigeria cannot wait until its solved all its problems before addressing its image

Kobojunkie:

This man’s get’s robbed at a conference in Nigeria, and the image of Nigeria abroad is to blame? He is not even calling for something to be done about the thieves. Lol

Pataki:

This thread and postings in it, are all so comical.

THE HUNGRY MAN ON THE STREET NEEDS RE-BRANDING.
THE YAHOO-YAHOO BOY NEEDS RE-BRANDING.
OUR ROAD DEATH HOLES NEEDS RE-BRANDING.
THE JOBLESS GRADUATE WITH A FIRST CLASS NEEDS RE-BRANDING.
OUR FAILED ELECTRICITY GENERATION NEEDS RE-BRANDING.
OUR MONOTONOUS ECONOMY NEEDS RE-BRANDING.

Dora should go and get her priorities right!

enyojo:

Many Nigerian youths lack the basic knowledge about the REBRANDING that Dora is kickstarting.

enyojo:

To rebrand Nigeria in this respect is to make Nigerians believe in themselves and in Nigeria.

enyojo:

This is the FIRST block in building this country Nigeria into a Nation. For the fact that past leaders drain our resources does not mean present leaders should not utilize our resources any more.

enyojo:

Why do we always throw stones on the wrong people?

enyojo:

Obj and Frank Iweke jnr and others who ruined the former rebranding efforts are still walking free on our roads. Why attack an innocent Dora?

enyojo:

Every Nigerian needs this rebranding!
Nigerians who cross the boarders and are searched to their private parts need rebranding.
The common man on the street who does not believe himself needs rebranding

enyojo:

The jobless graduate who doesnt believe in nigeria but is obsessed with traveling out instead of creating jobs needs rebranding.

enyojo:

Great corporations and Nations know that everything RISES AND FALLS ON BRAND!

enyojo:

let's channel our agitations to the right quarters.