The Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), on Thursday, unveiled the Nigeria Reputation Perception Index (RPI) Report, the first of its kind in the country.
The document, which took seven years to prepare, polled 3,911 respondents across 36 countries, and was presented at the National Assembly Library Complex in Abuja.
The report assessed Nigeria’s reputation using seven pillars, Culture, Social Equity, Leadership, Innovation, Performance, Communication, and Credibility, and identified credibility as the weakest pillar, with an RPI score of 28.1.
Part of the report read: *“The overall RPI score of 35.2 places Nigeria in a low-trust reputation band, signaling significant confidence gaps relative to the country’s scale, visibility, and potential.
“The 9.6-point gap between domestic and international perception suggests that external audiences apply more stringent evaluation criteria, particularly around credibility and performance delivery.”*
Culture, which ranked highest, recorded an RPI score of 48.7.
Declaring the event open, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, emphasised the significance of the initiative undertaken by the NIPR.
He said: “How a nation is perceived by its citizens, investors, development partners, and the global community directly influences its economic opportunities, diplomatic leverage, social cohesion, and democratic legitimacy. Countries that understand, measure, and deliberately manage their reputation are better positioned to attract investment, tourism, innovation, and global partnerships.
“It is, therefore, both timely and commendable that Nigeria has taken this bold step to systematically assess how it is perceived across key dimensions such as governance, economy, security, institutions, culture, innovation, and social trust. The Nigeria Reputation Perception Index provides us not only with a mirror to reflect on our strengths and weaknesses, but also with a compass to guide policy reforms and national reorientation.
“From a legislative standpoint, this report is of immense value. The National Assembly, as the custodian of the people’s mandate, requires credible data and independent insights to effectively discharge its core responsibilities of lawmaking, oversight, and representation. Evidence-based reports such as this empower legislators to draft responsive laws, strengthen institutional frameworks, and demand accountability where it matters most.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, reputation is ultimately built from lived realities. It is shaped by the quality of leadership, the integrity of institutions, the consistency of public policies, and the everyday experiences of citizens. Improving Nigeria’s reputation therefore calls for collective responsibility across the executive, legislature, judiciary, private sector, civil society, media, and indeed every Nigerian.
“As lawmakers, we must continue to support reforms that promote transparency, inclusiveness, national unity, economic resilience, and social justice. We must also ensure that our legislative outputs align with global best practices while remaining sensitive to Nigeria’s unique socio-political context.
“I am particularly encouraged that this Index is not presented as a tool for blame, but as an instrument for learning, reform, and progress. Constructive self-assessment is the hallmark of mature democracies, and Nigeria must not shy away from honest conversations about its national image and the underlying realities that shape it.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the President and Chairman-in-Council of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said that “Reputation is the invisible force that shapes investment decisions, borrowing costs, tourism confidence, and global trust.”