Pivot Nigeria 2025 : ‘Reframing the Lens’ Inspires A Positive National Narrative

 Pivot Nigeria: Reframing the Lens is a national thought-

leadership platform created to reset Nigeria’s reputation agenda. Powered by High Stakes Public 

Relations Professionals (High Stakes PR Professionals), Pivot Nigeria catalysis dialogue to inspire 

pride, amplify authentic narratives, and co-create a stronger, more balanced Nigeria narrative.

The inaugural Pivot Nigeria Conference held recently, brought together thought leaders, innovators, 

journalists, entrepreneurs and youth to emphasize the urgent need for Nigerians to own and shape 

Nigeria’s narrative. 

The conference blended high-impact keynotes, panels and hands-on co-creation 

labs to inspire action.

Urging attendees to become ambassadors of truth and optimism for Nigeria, Pivot Nigeria convener, 

Victoria Uwadoka-Anyianuka set the tone: “We are not here to complain or to lament; we are here to 

reframe the lens on how we see ourselves as Nigerians.

 Changing how others see us starts with how 

we present and represent ourselves. Our mission is to challenge the prevailing narratives, to spotlight 

authentic stories, and to co-create a narrative that reflects Nigeria’s true story.”

The conviction that Nigerians must first change how they see themselves before looking for external 

validation echoed throughout the day, from the keynote and plenary sessions to the co-creation labs. 

The conference focused on culture as capital, who tells our story and why it matters, reconciling 

criticism with commitment, and the role of the media in changing the narrative. 

Mr. Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nigerian actor, lawyer, filmmaker, and cultural icon popularly known as 

RMD spoke about the paradoxes of Nigeria: “Nigeria is a beautiful country. It is a great country. 

On the one hand, it can frustrate you to the point where you feel like ‘I’m getting out.’ But on the other 

hand, it can give you so much that you’ll be wondering why it took you so long to unlock the keys 

that give you entrance to the bountiful opportunities that you find in Nigeria.”

He added that Nigeria, as a country, needs to go back to the drawing board, to see who we are, “It is 

when you have articulated who you are that your people can see.”

On his part, Mr. Emeka Mba, Founder and CEO of AfiaTV said, “Who tells your story and how it is 

told is often how you are seen. Too often, our stories are told by outsiders.

 Building inclusive national 

narratives, consistent cultural diplomacy, and deliberate policies to rebuild trust are essential to shaping 

how the world perceives us. 

If you look at emerging news platforms like AfiaTV and News Central, 

there is a deliberate editorial direction, a recognition of the power the media wields, and the duty it 

has to project balanced, accurate, and responsible portrayals of Nigeria, particularly to international 

audiences.”

Speaking in the same vein, Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan, Director, Commercial and Communications, 

News Central TV said, “The story of Nigeria, in all its complexity, courage and brilliance, must nolonger be told by others, through filters of fear or foreign bias. It must be told by us: boldly, 

responsibly, and completely. 

For far too long, the image reflected of Nigeria has been distorted, 

reduced to the cliches of conflict, corruption, disease, and despair.” 

Emphasizing the critical role of the media in changing the narrative, Rosemary added, “At News

Central TV, we took a stand. We chose to change the narrative not by ignoring the challenges, but by 

contextualizing them, by highlighting progress alongside problems, and most importantly, by 

amplifying voices that are too often silenced and overlooked.”

Pivot Nigeria conference participants converted ideas into action in the co-creation labs and proffered 

solutions: reclaim Nigeria’s story through citizen action; promote balanced, indigenous storytelling; 

embed civic education and national values in school curricula; leverage creative industries (film, music, 

fashion, tech) as soft-power engines; push for stronger accountability in governance; and scale Pivot 

Nigeria through campus ambassadors and community chapters to sustain awareness about the 

currency of reputation as capital. 

Nneka Isaac-Moses, Meche Isaac-Moses, Nina Anyianuka, Temitope Aina, and Nneamaka Nwadei

highlighted narrative power as a tool of diplomacy, trade, and cohesion, urging collective action by 

the media and all stakeholders to reclaim the Nigeria story.

The “Pivot Nigeria: Reframing the Lens” initiative is a call for citizens, creatives, media houses, 

government institutions, the private sector and the diaspora to interrogate and reframe their 

presentation and representation of Nigeria, and to use their everyday platforms (including social 

media) responsibly to reflect a balanced, authentic Nigeria narrative.