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As Nigeria prepares to celebrate its 66th Independence Anniversary, a new nationwide initiative aimed at promoting national pride, youth participation and positive storytelling is set to take centre stage.
The initiative, spearheaded by De Ambassadors Global Network (DAGN) in partnership with African University of Science and Technology and other strategic collaborators, will feature a three-week media and civic engagement campaign designed to encourage Nigerians to tell the country’s story through their own experiences and achievements.
According to the organisers, the campaign seeks to reshape global and local perceptions of Nigeria by spotlighting resilience, innovation, creativity and enterprise among citizens both at home and in the diaspora.
“For decades, Nigeria’s story has often been defined by fragmented headlines, political discourse, economic statistics and external perceptions. Yet beyond those narratives exists another Nigeria — driven by resilience, innovation, creativity, enterprise, leadership and hope,” DAGN said in a statement.
A major highlight of the campaign is the “Operation PVC” Nigeria National Digital Youth Talent Challenge, a nationwide competition aimed at discovering and rewarding young talents across several sectors including music, sports, technology, fashion, comedy, film and innovation.
Organisers said each category carries a national message designed to inspire hope and participation. These include “Voices That Heal the Nation” for music, “Skill Beyond the Game” for football freestyle, “Bounce the Future Forward” for basketball freestyle, and “Ideas That Power Tomorrow” for technology and innovation.
The competition will also feature categories such as short films under the theme “My Nigeria Story,” comedy skits, artwork, fashion design and hair ancestry, all aimed at promoting Nigerian culture and identity.
In what organisers described as a historic democratic engagement model, Nigerians across the country and in the diaspora will participate directly in selecting winners through online voting on national digital platforms.
DAGN said the voting system would determine finalists and category winners, ensuring transparency, inclusion and nationwide ownership of the process.
Winners of the talent challenge are expected to receive cash prizes, startup and creative funding support, professional contracts with industry partners, as well as national and international exposure opportunities.
The initiative will also feature the Nigeria @66 Global Compendium, a showcase recognising 66 exceptional Nigerians at home, 66 Nigerians in the diaspora and 66 organisations contributing to national development.
Organisers described the project as more than an anniversary celebration, saying it is intended to become a long-term platform that integrates media, education, technology and civic participation to strengthen national identity and youth engagement.
Through its collaboration with the African University of Science and Technology, the initiative is also expected to promote innovation-driven programmes, youth development and research-focused engagement.
The campaign is scheduled to officially launch on May 30, 2026, with proceedings to be streamed live via Zoom.
