Nigeria’s Age Not Excuse For Poor Governance, Institutional Failures – RMD

Veteran actor and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo has said Nigeria’s age should not be used to excuse poor governance, institutional failures, or other shortcomings but should remind citizens that building a stable and prosperous nation requires time and deliberate effort.

Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, said this at the 2026 Pivot Nigeria Conference in Lagos, where participants examined Nigeria’s global reputation and the social and economic costs of negative perceptions of the country.

The conference, themed: “The Reputation Dividend: Who Pays for Nigeria’s Perception?”

Mofe-Damijo said Nigeria, which will mark 66 years of independence this year, is still relatively young compared to many developed countries and needs patience, consistent work, and a shared commitment to nation-building.

According to him, “There is this school of thought that says that Nigeria is still a very young country. To build a civilisation, it takes a long time; do not get me wrong. I am not saying that we should not try to move at a fast pace. But at 66, we are a young country compared to a lot of the countries that are leading countries today.”

He said Nigeria’s age should not be used to excuse poor governance, institutional failures, or other shortcomings but should remind citizens that building a stable and prosperous nation requires time and deliberate effort.

“It does not excuse our shortcomings, but it speaks to the fact that we should be patient. We are a country in progress. We are a work in progress, and we must continue doing the work,” he said.

The actor also believes Nigerians were often too quick to criticise the country, adding that changing the way citizens view Nigeria does not mean pretending that its problems do not exist.

He said, “We are too quick to condemn ourselves; reframing the lens through which we look at Nigeria is not lying that there are no problems. It is saying that we need to fix them.”

He further urged Nigerians to move beyond criticism and begin offering practical ideas and solutions to national challenges. “There are problems, but we need to fix them. Do not stand and just criticise without proffering solutions. There are problems, yes, but what do we do with the problems? Let us fix them,” he averred.

Mofe-Damijo said every Nigerian has a role to play in shaping the country’s image, both at home and abroad. He urged young people and professionals to see themselves as ambassadors of Nigeria in their daily conduct.

“Just remember who you are. You are an ambassador, not just for yourself, or your parents, or your school, but ultimately for your country.”

He said national development depended on citizens taking responsibility for the kind of country they wanted to build, noting that successful societies were built by their people.

“People get the kind of leadership or the country that they deserve. Americans built America. Nigerians have to build theirs,” he said.

The Nollywood legend cited Nigeria’s Afrobeats industry and the Dangote Group as examples of local success stories that show what Nigerians can achieve when they identify opportunities, build capacity, and pursue excellence.

Convener, Pivot Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, said the platform is created to help us interrogate how we see ourselves as Nigerians. And with that, it also shapes how other people see us as Nigerians and how people experience us as Nigerians in how we do.

Through Pivot Nigeria, Uwadoka hopes to reshape how Nigerians see themselves and how the world sees us. “If you say you’re a lion, behave like a lion, and not as a cat. We are the giants of Africa. Let’s act like it.”

She urged media, youth, and corporate bodies to tell balanced stories about Nigeria, highlighting both challenges and triumphs, and to embody the values that reflect the nation’s true character. “When people meet you, you are the Nigeria they meet; let’s represent ourselves as disciplined, ethical, and impactful citizens,” She said.