OPENING REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, MOHAMMED IDRIS, AT THE MAIDEN EDITION OF THE MINISTERIAL PRESS BRIEFING SERIES, ORGANISED BY THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, RADIO HOUSE, ABUJA, ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024
Protocol.
We are gathered here today for the maiden edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS) organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under my leadership.
Coincidentally, it happens to be taking place on a day that is set aside around the world for the celebration of love. By an additional force of coincidence, today also happens to be Ash Wednesday, a significant day on the Christian calendar, marking the beginning of Lent, which is a season of fasting and prayer. This is therefore a most special and auspicious day, indeed, not just in Nigeria, but globally.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (FMINO) has a mandate to manage and enhance the image and reputation of the people and government of Nigeria through a dynamic public information system that facilitates access by citizens and the global community to credible and timely information.
To this end, at the Ministry, we have crafted and are implementing an Agenda that is based on the following five (5) pillars, in alignment with the Renewed Hope vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
- Pillar 1 is RESTORE TRUST: We are determined to restore trust, confidence and credibility to public communications, by engaging in a timely, proactive and consistent fashion with all our stakeholders, across government, the media, private sector and international community, deploying all available platforms and media.
- Pillar 2, closely tied to Pillar 1, is AMPLIFY POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES: We are highlighting and amplifying the policies, programs and achievements of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, and the positive impact of these policies and programs in the lives of the Nigerian people. We are also working to showcase inspiring stories and narratives from and about this blessed and beautiful country that we call home.
- Pillar 3 is REORIENT NATIONAL VALUES: We are implementing a series of national campaigns to achieve a reorientation of attitudes, values and ethics in Nigeria. We have already started work in this regard, and very soon we will launch Nigeria’s new National Values Charter, which will outline the rights and responsibilities that government and citizens have towards each other, and form the foundation for these national reorientation campaigns.
- Pillar 4 is MODERNIZE TECHNOLOGY & TALENT: We are modernizing and upgrading the Federal Government’s Information and Communications Systems and Personnel, ensuring they are relevant and fit-for-purpose for the 21st century.
- Pillar 5 is CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MEDIA: We are creating an enabling environment for all players and stakeholders in the media and information ecosystem: journalists, publishers, proprietors, etc.; through the implementation of favorable policies and incentives.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
The Ministerial Press Briefing Series (MPBS) that we are kicking off today, are in line with our ‘Restore Trust’ and ‘Amplify Policies and Programmes’ pillars. This is a chance for you, the distinguished members of the press, to engage with senior officials of the Federal Government, on behalf of the good people of Nigeria.
You will hear first-hand about what the Federal Government is doing, policies, programs, targets and objectives, and you will be able to ask questions and receive relevant clarifications. We have also made efforts to ensure that this Briefing Series receives the widest possible coverage, through traditional and digital platforms.
Our special guest at this debut edition of the Series, is my colleague, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
This, as you know, is a very critical sector of the Nigerian economy. The Minister and the Honourable Minister of State have been doing a lot of work to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration, and will have a chance to share highlights of that work with you this afternoon.
I would like to urge you, the members of the press here with us today, or covering this virtually, to please report objectively and responsibly, through the headlines and the narratives that you will be reporting to the world from this Press Briefing. Our objective here is to enlighten, inform and educate Nigerians and the world, and to ensure that everyone is carried along through the provision of credible and timely information.
This is the first in the series, there will be many more of this Briefings that will take place, periodically, in the months and years ahead. We will continue to strive to refine and to improve our engagement with you, the members of the fourth estate of the realm, and with the Nigerian people.
I thank you all for joining us here today, and for helping to make this inaugural edition of our Ministerial Press Briefing Series a resounding success.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.