Speaking in London on Saturday at the UK edition of the Renewed Hope Global Dialogue themed “Strengthening Global Partnerships for Economic Renewal and National Rebranding under the Renewed Hope Administration,” Idris said partnerships and collaboration remain central to Nigeria’s efforts at rebranding and repositioning on the world stage.
He decried ongoing disinformation campaigns alleging state-sponsored religious discrimination in Nigeria, describing them as false and malicious. “We have been very robust in our rebuttals, making it clear that these are despicable narratives being peddled by people who know nothing about Nigeria,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Information, in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has launched the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) to promote national pride and strengthen the country’s global reputation. He added that October 15 has been designated as Nigeria Reputation Day to raise awareness on the importance of national image.
Idris announced that Nigeria will host both the 2026 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference and the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja, making it the first African country to host both global events in the same year.
Highlighting key diplomatic and economic achievements, he said President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy vision—anchored on the 4Ds of Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—is already yielding results, including Nigeria’s admission as a BRICS partner and the election of Nigerians into leadership roles in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
He also revealed that Nigeria was delisted from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List on Friday, describing it as a major endorsement of the government’s reforms to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
Idris concluded by noting that domestic reforms such as the unified exchange rate regime, national student loan programme, consumer credit scheme, new minimum wage, and the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development are fast-tracking Nigeria’s economic renewal, adding that the government remains open to global collaboration to sustain ongoing progress.
