FG urges Nigerians to counter false narratives, promote unity

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to unite in combating false narratives and misinformation that threaten the nation’s unity and global image.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters.

In a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media, Malam Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister said the spread of misinformation poses a grave danger to peace, national cohesion, and development.

“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,” Idris said. “Misinformation has the capacity to divide nations, and we must not allow that to happen to ours.”

He reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to promoting media and information literacy as a tool for truth, unity, and national progress, emphasizing the role of institutions like NOUN in advancing public enlightenment.

Idris commended NOUN for its leadership in open and distance learning and its readiness to host the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI). He noted that the institute’s certification is scheduled to take place in November 2025 at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

According to him, the IMILI project, supported by UNESCO and the Federal Ministry of Education, will promote responsible media practices, enhance Nigeria’s standing in information literacy, and align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The establishment of IMILI positions Nigeria as a leading voice in media and information literacy across Africa,” Idris said. “It is a strategic investment in truth, literacy, and civic enlightenment.”

Responding, Prof. Peters thanked the minister and the federal government for their support and a ₦250 million grant to facilitate the institute’s development. He said NOUN remains fully committed to ensuring IMILI’s success and its recognition as a UNESCO Category Two Institute.

Peters added that NOUN’s digital infrastructure, academic capacity, and institutional autonomy would sustain the institute’s global relevance and educational excellence.