By Tracy Moses
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged Nigerians to take ownership of the country’s global image, warning that allowing others to shape Nigeria’s narrative could damage its diplomatic standing, investment prospects and international reputation.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday after returning from a week-long engagement at Chatham House and the London Climate Action Week in the United Kingdom, Kalu said Nigeria must be deliberate in projecting its democratic progress, governance reforms and economic opportunities to the international community.
According to him, his engagements with policymakers, investors and development partners focused on Nigeria’s constitutional and electoral reforms, preparations for the 2027 general elections, and emerging investment opportunities in the country’s green economy.
“Nigeria is in the comity of nations; we are not an isolated nation.
“One thing with global politics is that perception is everything. If you don’t communicate and frame your narratives properly, others will frame the narratives for you.”
Kalu said with another election cycle approaching, it was important to update the international community on reforms aimed at strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Elections are coming, international observers will be here, documents will be flying around. We need to let the world know the level of our preparation and the innovations we have introduced into the Electoral Act to enhance credibility.”
He noted that he highlighted Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act, which provides for the electronic transmission of election results as the default legal position, describing it as one of the key reforms designed to improve electoral transparency.
The deputy speaker also disclosed that the National Assembly is working on proposals to place defence funding on the First Line Charge to guarantee timely and uninterrupted financing for national security.
“We informed them that we are pushing to ensure that financing for the defence sector occupies the First Line Charge so that funding will not be delayed or subjected to interference.”
On the sidelines of the London Climate Action Week, Kalu said he promoted Nigeria as a destination for investments in climate adaptation, energy transition and the green economy.
According to him, discussions with potential investors centred on reforms in the solid minerals sector and opportunities created by the country’s energy transition agenda.
“I was there wooing investors from around the world to come and participate in Nigeria’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
“I also showcased our roadmap for the green economy, particularly the reforms being driven under the Ministry of Solid Minerals.
“I saw significant interest, especially regarding energy transition. Our allies, particularly the United Kingdom, expressed strong interest in what Nigeria is doing, and I am confident that we will begin to harvest the outcomes of those engagements in the coming days.”
Kalu urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to become ambassadors of the country’s image by promoting balanced narratives that acknowledge existing challenges while highlighting progress and opportunities.
He warned that negative portrayals on digital platforms often shape international opinion long after the political issues that triggered them have faded.
“We do not have any other country but this. If we destroy its image, we become strangers wherever we go.
“We know we have challenges, and we should criticise constructively, but we must also tell the positive stories. Leadership will come and go, but you will remain a Nigerian for life.”
The deputy speaker also revealed that neither the Federal Government nor the National Assembly sponsored his participation at the international engagements, saying he personally funded the trip alongside members of his team because they believed Nigeria’s story should be told from a factual perspective.
“This trip was not sponsored by government. I sponsored it together with some members of my team because we believed it was time to project Nigeria positively to the world.
“It is not always about what government can do for you; it is also about what you can do for your country.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, Kalu appealed for patience with the country’s institutions, noting that the nation’s democracy remains relatively young compared to those of older democracies.
“When I spoke at Chatham House, I made it clear that we did not come to say Nigeria has arrived. We are only 27 years into our democracy, while many countries we are compared with have over 200 years of democratic experience.
“If we are patient and continue building our institutions, we will get it right. Let us keep Nigeria first in the way we project our country to the world because the narratives we create are being leveraged internationally to define who we are.”
He maintained that while constructive criticism is essential in any democracy, it should be balanced with efforts to showcase Nigeria’s reforms, progress and investment opportunities on platforms that influence global opinion and economic decisions.