"We must tell our success stories too" – Nigeria's information minister on 26 years of democratic growth

Business Insider

17 hours ago

The Nigerian government has taken a significant step toward revitalizing its creative economy and reshaping the country's international image, as Nigeria celebrates 26 years of democracy.
The Nigerian government aims to enhance its international image and attract investment by emphasizing positive narratives about the country.
The government is integrating media literacy into education to empower youth with critical thinking and responsible content creation skills.
Officials are encouraging citizens and media creators to highlight Nigeria's successes alongside its challenges to foster a balanced perspective.
As Nigeria commemorates 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on citizens, particularly the media and content creators, to strike a balance in how they portray the nation, urging them to also tell our success stories alongside the challenges.
Business Insider Africa spoke with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, about the nation's achievements over the years.
According to the minister, telling positive stories about the country - whether in governance, innovation, entrepreneurship, or the creative sector, is not an exercise in propaganda but a strategic necessity.
As Nigeria works to reposition its global image and attract international partnerships, he urged stakeholders to take ownership of the national narrative and project hope, resilience, and progress.
" There are so many good things happening around Nigeria. You can't just keep selling only the bad stories. No country does that and progresses—especially at a time when we're seeking foreign direct investment. If we want investors to come, we also have to tell the positive stories about our country, so they can believe in it and be encouraged to invest." he said.
Clarity in governance matters
Following President Tinubu's inauguration, the government took bold decisions, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. These reforms triggered a range of economic disruptions, leading to a sharp rise in fuel prices and general commodity costs across the country.
As a result, the cost of living increased significantly, with many citizens experiencing reduced purchasing power, widespread hardship, and hunger.
According to the minister, the Tinubu-led administration has remained fully aware of the situation and has consistently kept Nigerians updated on its economic policies and adjustment strategies.
'One thing this government consistently does is keep ordinary Nigerians informed about the steps it's taking to fix the country. President Tinubu has always emphasized the importance of maintaining transparency in all our processes. ' the minister said.
Training and empowering youth in media and social media
Beyond education, the administration is developing a range of programs aimed at engaging artists, media professionals, investors, and civil society groups to foster mutual understanding and drive sustainable growth in the sector.
These efforts not only aim to elevate Nigeria's cultural profile but also to attract foreign direct investment, positioning the creative economy as a cornerstone of national development.
Idris highlighted that the administration is developing a range of programs aimed at engaging artists, media professionals, investors, and civil society groups to foster mutual understanding and drive sustainable growth in the sector.
These efforts not only aim to elevate Nigeria's cultural profile but also to attract foreign direct investment, positioning the creative economy as a cornerstone of national development.
' An inflow of over $200 million has been secured by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy through external funding. This will provide a major boost to the sector. We know that Nigerian youth have been making waves globally, especially across the African continent. '
"Our film industry, Nollywood, has gained significant recognition, and many young Nigerians are also excelling in music and other creative arts. These are powerful tools of communication with the world. Through arts and culture, we can promote Nigeria's image abroad and demonstrate that the country has been evolving and improving over the years.' He said
Promoting positive narratives and national orientation
The Minister of Information and national orientation highlighted the urgency of responsible social media use, stressing the need for targeted training programs for youth and influencers who play a major role in shaping public discourse and perceptions.
As part of this comprehensive effort, the ministry said is collaborating with the Ministry of Education to embed media and information literacy into the national curriculum, beginning with the National Open University. This initiative is designed to equip young Nigerians with the critical thinking and digital skills necessary to navigate today's media landscape.
' We are already working with the Ministry of Education to deepen this initiative so it can be replicated across other universities. The goal is for Nigerian youth not only to study geography, science, English, or mass communication, but also to gain media literacy—the ability to discern between good and bad information, between what is fake and what is real.'