Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has urged Nigerians to stop merely condemning the country and instead contribute to solving its challenges.

Mofe-Damijo made the call at the 2026 Pivot Nigeria Conference held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, where participants discussed Nigeria’s reputation and the economic and social consequences of how the country is perceived.

He said Nigerians were often too quick to criticise the country without offering practical solutions to the problems they identified.

“We are too quick to condemn ourselves. There are problems, but we need to fix them. Don’t stand and just criticise and then proffer no solution,” he said.

The actor said acknowledging Nigeria’s challenges should go alongside efforts to address them, rather than creating a negative perception of the country.

He also urged citizens to hold political leaders accountable, stressing that elected officials should remain conscious of their responsibility to the people they represent.

Mofe-Damijo said every Nigerian also had a role to play in shaping the country’s image, particularly through their conduct at home and abroad.

He described Nigerians as ambassadors of the country and encouraged citizens to recognise the impact of their individual actions on Nigeria’s reputation.

The actor cited the international growth of Nigerian entertainment and the achievements of entrepreneurs as examples of Nigerians contributing to the country’s global image.

He, however, said the need for patience should not be interpreted as an excuse for poor governance or institutional failures.

Mofe-Damijo described Nigeria as a “work in progress”, saying nation-building required sustained effort and commitment.

“We are a country, we’re a work in progress, and we must continue just doing the work,” he said.

The conference convener, Victoria Uwadoka, said Nigeria’s reputation was a national asset and that responsibility for shaping it extended beyond government to citizens, businesses, institutions and the media.

She urged Nigerians to tell a balanced story about the country by acknowledging its challenges while also highlighting its achievements.

Uwadoka said government also had a responsibility to create an environment supported by sound policies, infrastructure and institutions that would enable Nigerians and businesses to thrive.