The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on communication professionals to employ strategic, truth-based public relations to counter misleading narratives portraying Nigeria as a country hostile to Christians.
Speaking at the National Unveiling of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF Abuja 2026) held on Monday in Abuja, the Minister emphasized that Nigeria faces significant reputational challenges from foreign actors seeking to distort facts and undermine national cohesion.
“We must recognize that our nation faces existential reputational threats from those who misrepresent Nigeria as a place of persecution. This falsehood about a so-called ‘Christian genocide’ is baseless and malicious—propaganda crafted by external elements intent on weakening our unity,” the Minister stated.
He stressed that such disinformation campaigns are designed to sow division and must be met with a coordinated communication strategy built on facts, ethics, and integrity.
“We must deploy the tools of public relations—anchored in truth and professionalism—to firmly reject these false and harmful narratives about Nigeria,” he urged.
The Minister noted that in today’s fast-paced digital environment, responsible communication has become a national duty, as misinformation spreads rapidly across platforms.
“We now live in a time when words travel faster than thought and opinions often outrun truth. This is why communicators must be guided by empathy, accountability, and service to the public good,” he said.
Idris linked this moral and professional responsibility to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he described as a national framework to rebuild public trust through openness and engagement.
“The Renewed Hope vision seeks to restore trust between government and citizens—trust built on transparency, inclusion, and shared purpose. Communication is the lifeblood of that trust,” he emphasized.
As host of the upcoming World Public Relations Forum 2026, Nigeria, he said, is asserting its leadership in promoting global communication ethics.
“This event is a bold statement that under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Nigeria is stepping forward as Africa’s biggest, brightest, and boldest voice for ethical and responsible communication,” Idris declared.
He commended the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (GA), led by Professor Justin Green, and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), under Dr. Ike Neliaku, for securing the hosting rights, which spotlight Nigeria as a global hub for communication excellence.
Recalling President Tinubu’s assurance to the international community, Idris said:
“As the President affirmed, you have no better friend and partner than Nigeria.”
In a powerful call to action, the Minister urged communicators, journalists, and public officers to uphold truth and integrity in their work.
“Let this unveiling be a call to conscience—for practitioners to hold the line of truth, for the media to inform with integrity, for public officers to communicate with transparency, and for citizens to speak with empathy,” he charged.
The Minister expressed optimism that WPRF Abuja 2026 will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s global communication journey.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is reshaping its global image. Let this Forum be remembered as the moment Africa’s largest democracy led the world in defining what it means to communicate with conscience,” he concluded.
The theme of the World Public Relations Forum Abuja 2026 is “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World.”
Bello Wakili
