FG Urges Citizens Against Spreading False Narratives About Nigeria
The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to unite in combating false narratives, misinformation, and foreign propaganda aimed at undermining the country’s unity.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the appeal when he received a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in Abuja.
In a statement by his media aide, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said: “Nigerians should join hands collectively to stop fake narratives about our country. We all have a responsibility to project the truth and Nigeria’s image. Misinformation has the capacity to divide nations, and we must not allow that to happen to ours.”
Idris noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to advancing media and information literacy as a tool for promoting truth, unity, and national development.
He stressed that addressing the spread of fake news is a shared responsibility, warning that false information can have far-reaching effects on national cohesion and the country’s global reputation.
The minister commended NOUN for its excellence in open and distance learning and for hosting the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), which he described as “a strategic national investment in truth, literacy, and civic enlightenment.”
He revealed that certification for IMILI will take place in November 2025 at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
“My ministry is committed to working with NOUN, UNESCO, and the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure Nigeria’s successful ratification and recognition of IMILI at the UNESCO General Conference,” Idris said.
He added that the institute will promote responsible media practices and strengthen Nigeria’s global standing in information integrity while aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda centred on integrity, accountability, and public enlightenment.
On his part, Prof. Peters thanked the Ministry of Information and National Orientation for entrusting NOUN with hosting IMILI and acknowledged the Federal Government’s ₦250 million grant for the institute’s development.
He assured that NOUN is fully prepared for IMILI’s global accreditation as a UNESCO Category Two Institute, describing it as an initiative that would enhance Nigeria’s leadership in media education.
“NOUN possesses the institutional capacity, digital infrastructure, and academic expertise to sustain the institute, with structures already in place to ensure its autonomy and international relevance,” Peters said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
