The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to stand together in countering misleading and destabilizing narratives about the country being spread by foreign interests.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), led by its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters.
Idris emphasized the need for collective responsibility in defending Nigeria’s image and promoting truth, warning that misinformation could undermine national unity and peace.
“Nigerians should join hands together, collectively, to stop fake narratives about our country,” the Minister said. “We all have a responsibility to project the truth and protect Nigeria’s image. Misinformation has the capacity to divide nations, and we must not allow that to happen to ours.”
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing media and information literacy as a means of promoting truth, civic responsibility, and national development.
Idris commended NOUN for its achievements in open and distance learning and its readiness to host the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), which is set for certification at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in November 2025.
According to him, the establishment of IMILI is “not only an educational initiative but also a strategic national investment in truth, literacy, and civic enlightenment.” He noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes integrity, accountability, and public enlightenment.
The Minister assured that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation would continue to collaborate with NOUN, UNESCO, and the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure the successful ratification and recognition of IMILI at the global level.
In his remarks, NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Peters, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support and for approving a ₦250 million grant to facilitate the establishment of the institute.
