Former Director General National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba, has observed narrative power shapes how outsiders perceive a country.
Speaking at the maiden edition of Pivot Nigeria conference held in Lagos recently, he noted, “who tells your story and how it is told is often how you are seen. Too often, our stories are told by outsiders.”
Themed, ‘Reframing the lens,’ Mba, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Afia TV insisted the nation’s stories cannot be outsourced to CNN. Even languages of framing stories, he added, must be original to Nigeria.
As a way out, Mba advocated building inclusive national narratives, consistent cultural diplomacy, and deliberate policy to rebuild trust and shelve tribe.
Speaking in a similar vein, filmmaker and cultural icon, Richard Mofe-Damijo, noted, “we are witnesses to the exceptionalism of Nigeria everywhere. The greatest of Nigeria is also a matter of foreign policy. Look at the success of our films, Afrobeats and medical expertise. How come we are not using what the world knows us with as a matter of foreign policy, because it is when you’ve articulated who you are that other people can help you? We must also address insecurity and have mindset shift.”
Convener, Pivot Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, has argued stressed the need to galvanise actions towards building stronger and more confident narratives about the country.
Describing Nigeria as one of the most talked about nations in Africa and the world, she added, “our cultural footprints are undeniable. Our music, film, fashion and literature have captured global attention. Yet, when it comes to reputation, the narrative is too often dominated by accounts of instability, corruption and dysfunction.
These single-stories portrayal obscure the country’s complexity and erode both global trust and domestic confidence.”
To her, Pivot Nigeria was created to change this trajectory, with conviction that a decisive shift in perspective can unlock new possibilities for national pride, progress and purpose.
There was panel on balancing the narratives responsibly anchored by writer, journalist and filmmaker Nina Anyianuka. The panelists include journalist Temitope Aina and media executive, Nneamaka Nwadei.
To Aina, Nigerian stories must not be told to the extreme. Nwadei, however, stressed need for introspection in telling balanced stories.
A fireside conversation with co-founder, Goge Africa TV, Isaac Moses and Chief Executive Officer Goge Africa TV Nneka Isaac-Moses also dissected need for balanced narratives about the country.
There were also breakout sessions for co-creation groups. Each group developed recommendations for the National Story telling framework.
