The pioneer Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation, Dr Emmanuella Arukwe, has said the oil company is widely misunderstood by Nigerians, blaming legacy perceptions and poor storytelling for the public’s negative image.
Arukwe spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2nd Reputation Roundtable organised by the Federal Capital Territory chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where stakeholders discussed the intersection of corporate governance, perception, and economic recovery.
She said lingering sentiments about the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation continue to shape public opinion about its successor, despite reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act that transformed it into a limited liability company.
“The NNPC is wrongly perceived by the public, owing largely to conceptions about the then corporation, which were heightened because we’re not telling our stories,” she said. “As a limited liability company, NNPC storytelling is gradually evolving. The public needs to know that the NNPC upholds very high standards of corporate governance and disciplined processes while delivering value to Nigerians beyond its products to its social investments.”
Arukwe added that the NNPC Foundation has executed social interventions and programmes across all states, including the Federal Capital Territory and host communities, over the past three years.
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Major General J.G.K. Myam, Director-General of the Army Resource Centre, warned that misinformation amplified by digital platforms and artificial intelligence has made reputation management more complex. He noted that the United Nations has established a 40-member independent team to address AI’s risks while maintaining its benefits.
Prof Emmanuel Dandaura, Acting President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, linked public trust in institutions to broader economic realities, citing Nigeria’s GDP growth around 3.5 per cent, unemployment above 30 per cent, and inflation exceeding 20 per cent. He stressed that perception in the digital age moves quickly and affects citizens’ confidence in institutions.
The roundtable attracted communication professionals, corporate leaders, and policy stakeholders, focusing on public trust, institutional transparency, and strategic communication in Nigeria’s economic recovery.