The Consul-General of Nigeria’s Mission to South Africa, Mr Okey Emuchay, has vowed that Nigeria will not lose hope in its effort at improving its image that has been dented abroad.

Emuchay said this in Johannesburg while receiving members of the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, led by its President-General, Dr Rafiu Oladipo.

No fewer than 500 members of the club have converged in South Africa to cheer the Super Eagles to victory at the ongoing 29th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Consul-General noted that Nigeria had been facing image problems in South Africa and indeed other countries in southern Africa because of changes in the political leaderships in the countries in the region.

“The older generations of politicians in Southern Africa, who knew Nigeria’s contributions toward their struggle for emancipation from colonialism are leaving the stage for the younger ones.

“The likes of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki who struggled for freedom are leaving the stage for the younger ones, who do not know much about the role of Nigeria during their struggles,’’ he said.

He, however, pointed out that it was ironical that it was mainly the black South Africans that had been painting Nigeria black, stressing that the white South Africans had been busy establishing businesses both home and abroad.

“The majority of South Africans on business missions to Nigeria were mainly white South Africans. The white South Africans are making more money in Nigeria through establishing of businesses,’’ he said.

According to him, the issue of image laundering is a collective effort, stressing that it behoves every Nigerian to continue to project the image of the country positively to the outside world.

Emuchay said that Nigeria’s image problem had nothing to do with its population, but strictly a leadership problem.

He commended the club in its efforts at rebuilding the good image of the country, saying Nigerians were aware of the positive roles being played by the club.

The Consul-General urged Oladipo not to be intimidated by the negative image being projected of the country at present, saying that the club should continue to create a positive image for the country at home and abroad.

Earlier, Oladipo said that the country was facing infrastructure problems at home, saying that something concrete needed to be done to improve the situation.

Oladipo said that Nigerians were known to be hardworking and patriotic but that only a collective  effort of leaders as well as followers would help to re-build the nation.