The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening global partnerships to counter false narratives and promote a positive image of Nigeria on the world stage.
Speaking at the UK Edition of the Renewed Hope Global Dialogue held in London on Saturday, with the theme “Strengthening Global Partnerships for Economic Renewal and National Rebranding under the Renewed Hope Administration,” the Minister said collaboration with international partners remains central to Nigeria’s rebranding efforts.
Idris said the country is currently tackling a wave of disinformation campaigns falsely alleging state-sponsored religious attacks and discrimination, describing the claims as malicious and unfounded.
“We have been very robust in our rebuttals, making it clear that these are despicable narratives being peddled by people who know nothing about Nigeria,” he stated.
The Minister emphasized that Nigeria needs genuine allies who understand the country’s diversity and can help project an accurate picture of its realities.
“We need international friends and partners who know our country well and can add their voices to ours to present a credible image of Nigeria,” he added.
Idris noted that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is leading efforts to promote Nigeria’s image through deliberate and strategic rebranding initiatives.
He disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has established the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) to promote positive national pride among citizens and enhance the country’s reputation globally.
According to him, the NRMG recently launched the Nigeria Global Reputation Management Project, which will be driven by seasoned branding professionals and communication experts.
Idris further revealed that the Federal Government has designated October 15 as Nigeria Reputation Day, to be celebrated annually to raise awareness about the importance of national reputation and responsible public communication.
He also announced that Nigeria will host two major global events in 2026 — the African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference and the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) — both scheduled to take place in Abuja. The development makes Nigeria the first African country to host both prestigious gatherings in the same year.
Highlighting recent diplomatic and economic milestones, Idris said President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy, encapsulated in the Tinubu Doctrine anchored on the 4Ds — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, is already yielding results.
He noted that Nigeria’s admission as a BRICS partner country earlier this year and the election of a Nigerian as Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) are testaments to the country’s growing global influence.
“Just this week, our Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) was also elected President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting,” Idris added.
The Minister further announced that Nigeria has been delisted from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, describing it as a major achievement that reflects the success of President Tinubu’s reforms to strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
He commended the collaboration between government agencies and international partners that made the development possible, saying it demonstrates that Nigeria is serious about financial transparency and enforcement.
On domestic achievements, Idris highlighted several reforms under the Renewed Hope Administration, including the unified exchange rate policy, national student loans scheme, new minimum wage, consumer credit program, Presidential CNG initiative, and the establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
He said these initiatives reflect the administration’s determination to position Nigeria as a leading global economy.
“We are a listening, engaging government, and we invite our international partners to seek out more information about the fantastic things happening in Nigeria and explore ways of partnering with us to take the transformation to the next level,” Idris stated.