The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has cautioned Nigerian youth against spreading false information, describing misinformation as a serious moral and national challenge.
Idris gave the warning at the 20th Joint Ramadan Lecture organised by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and the Voice of Nigeria (VON) in Kaduna. He said the misuse of digital platforms could deepen divisions and undermine national unity if not guided by responsibility and truth.
The minister noted that while digital technology offers significant opportunities, it also presents moral tests that demand discipline and accountability, stressing that verification of information has become both a civic and moral obligation.
Highlighting youth-focused initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Idris listed programmes such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), as well as the establishment of Africa’s first Media and Information Literacy Institute aimed at equipping young Nigerians with skills required to thrive in the digital economy.
“False information poses a serious moral and national challenge. Verify before you amplify. Pause and interrogate the source. While digital technology offers vast opportunities, its misuse can deepen division and undermine national unity. Media literacy is the vaccine against misinformation, and we must use digital platforms to promote education, innovation and national development rather than discord,” he said.
Idris described Nigeria’s youthful population as one of its greatest strengths but warned that the country’s future depends on how well young people are guided and supported. He added that the government is investing in an ecosystem where digital technology serves as a pathway to economic opportunity.
He also referenced Nigeria’s designation by UNESCO as host of Africa’s first Media and Information Literacy Institute, describing it as a strategic milestone to strengthen citizens’ critical thinking skills and resilience against digital manipulation.
The lecture was attended by the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani (represented); the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi; the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Dr Yahaya Abubakar; and the directors-general of VON, NTA and FRCN, among other dignitaries.
