The former presidential aide is pushing for a bold cultural shift in Nigeria’s broadcast industry — and Nigerians are talking about it.
Ambassador Reno Omokri has sparked a fresh conversation about Nigerian identity and cultural pride, calling on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to enforce a policy that would require newscasters and on-air personalities (OAPs) to wear made-in-Nigeria clothing and speak with authentic Nigerian accents while on air.
What Reno Omokri Is Saying
The activist, author, and former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is not mincing words. Omokri wants the NBC — the body responsible for regulating broadcasting standards in Nigeria — to go beyond just monitoring content and take a strong stand for cultural representation on our screens and airwaves.
His call is simple but powerful: if you are broadcasting to Nigerians, dress like a Nigerian and sound like one.
Why This Matters for Nigeria
This is not just about fashion or accents — it goes much deeper than that. For decades, there has been a subtle but damaging message embedded in Nigerian media: that to appear professional, credible, or sophisticated, you must sound like you grew up in London or Atlanta, and dress in foreign designer wear.
Think about it. How many times have you switched on your television and watched a Nigerian presenter speak in an accent so thick with American or British influence that you had to remind yourself you were watching a local channel? How many times have our local tailors and fashion designers — the Aso-Oke weavers, the Adire makers, the Ankara designers — been overlooked in favour of foreign suits and blazers on prime-time television?
Omokri’s position challenges this norm head-on.
The Economic Angle: Buy Naija to Grow the Naira
Beyond cultural pride, there is a solid economic argument here. Nigeria’s fashion and textile industry is bursting with talent. From the creative genius of designers in Lagos Island’s Balogun Market to the exquisite craftsmanship of Aba-made shoes and Kano’s leather goods, Nigeria produces world-class fashion that deserves a global spotlight — starting from our own screens.
When OAPs and newscasters are seen rocking stunning Agbada, beautifully tailored Ankara suits, elegant Aso-Oke, or sharp kaftan ensembles on national television, it sends a message to every Nigerian watching: our own is good enough. It could drive demand for locally made goods, create jobs, and strengthen the naira — all from something as simple as what our broadcasters choose to wear.
The Accent Debate: A Touchy But Necessary Conversation
Now, the accent issue — that one will definitely get people talking at the owambe this weekend.
Many Nigerians have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, some argue that Nigerian broadcasters should be free to speak however they are most comfortable. On the other hand, there is a growing sentiment that the deliberate adoption of foreign accents — particularly when it feels performative — disconnects presenters from the very audiences they are meant to serve.
Nigeria is home to over 500 languages and a rich tapestry of English dialects shaped by Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Edo, Efik, and countless other tongues. That Nigerian-English flavour is not a flaw — it is a feature. It is part of who we are.
Countries like India, South Africa, and Jamaica have embraced their unique English accents on the global stage with pride. Why should Nigeria be any different?
Will the NBC Listen?
That remains the big question. The NBC has the regulatory power to implement such a policy, but whether there is the political will to do so is another matter entirely. Nigerians will be watching closely.
One thing is certain though — Reno Omokri has once again managed to put a mirror in front of us and ask: When will we truly begin to value what is ours?
What do you think? Should the NBC make it compulsory for Nigerian broadcasters to wear made-in-Nigeria attire and speak in Nigerian accents? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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