President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education sector reforms are creating real opportunities for young Nigerians, and ensuring access, stability and quality across Nigerian universities, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated when he received the Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja (formerly University of Abuja), Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who led the university’s top management team on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
According to the Minister, “Initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), student innovation grants, and improved government–university relations are already strengthening the education sector and creating real opportunities for young Nigerians.”
He added: “Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government is implementing key education reforms to ensure access, stability, and quality across our universities.”
The Minister also stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigerian universities to advance media education, promote responsible journalism, and address the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and the misuse of digital technologies.
He described the visit as timely and strategic, noting that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation remains a service-oriented institution dedicated to supporting academia through visibility, public communication, mentorship, and policy alignment. He assured the delegation that the Ministry is open to sustained engagement and partnership.
The Minister commended the university for establishing the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies, describing the unbundling of Mass Communication into specialised programmes as aligned with global best practices. He emphasised the need for closer interaction between media professionals and students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice.
He also highlighted the Federal Government’s leadership in promoting media and information literacy, referencing Nigeria’s hosting of the UNESCO Category II Media and Information Literacy Institute—the first of its kind globally—as part of national efforts to combat fake news and strengthen public trust in information.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Fawehinmi, congratulated the Minister on his leadership in the information sector and formally sought the Ministry’s support, collaboration, and mentorship for the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies ahead of its accreditation. He expressed the University’s readiness to support the Federal Government’s programmes and policy direction.
