The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education sector reforms are creating tangible opportunities for young Nigerians while improving access, stability and quality across the nation’s universities.
The Minister made this known while receiving the Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja (formerly the University of Abuja), Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who led the university’s management team on a courtesy visit.
Idris said initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), student innovation grants, and improved government–university relations were already strengthening the education sector and expanding opportunities for students.
He noted that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government was implementing critical reforms aimed at stabilising the university system and enhancing academic standards nationwide.
The Minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Nigerian universities, particularly in advancing media education, promoting responsible journalism, and addressing the challenges of misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of digital technologies.
Describing the visit as timely, Idris said the Ministry of Information and National Orientation remained a service-oriented institution committed to supporting academia through public communication, mentorship, policy alignment and institutional visibility. He assured the delegation of the Ministry’s openness to sustained engagement.
He commended the university for establishing the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies, noting that the unbundling of Mass Communication into specialised programmes aligned with global best practices. He stressed the importance of closer interaction between media professionals and students to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
The Minister further highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to promote media and information literacy, citing Nigeria’s hosting of the UNESCO Category II Media and Information Literacy Institute as part of national strategies to combat fake news and strengthen public trust in information.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Fawehinmi congratulated the Minister on his leadership and formally requested the Ministry’s support, collaboration and mentorship for the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies ahead of its accreditation. He also expressed the university’s readiness to support the Federal Government’s programmes and policy direction.
