The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education sector reforms are expanding access, improving stability, and enhancing quality across Nigerian universities.
The Minister made this known in Abuja while receiving the Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja (formerly the University of Abuja), Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who led the university’s top management team on a courtesy visit to his office.
According to Idris, key initiatives of the Tinubu administration, including 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.
“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government is implementing critical education reforms to ensure access, stability, and quality across our universities,” the Minister said.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Nigerian universities to advance media education, promote responsible journalism, and tackle the challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and the misuse of digital technologies.
Describing the visit as timely and strategic, Idris said 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 of sustained engagement and partnership.
The Minister commended Yakubu Gowon University for establishing the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies, noting that the unbundling of Mass Communication into specialised programmes aligns with global best practices. He stressed the importance of closer interaction between media professionals and students to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical media experience.
Idris also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in media and information literacy, citing the country’s hosting of the UNESCO Category II Media and Information Literacy Institute—the first of its kind globally—as part of efforts to combat fake news and strengthen public trust in information.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Fawehinmi, congratulated the Minister on his leadership and formally sought the Ministry’s support, collaboration, and mentorship for the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies ahead of its accreditation. He reaffirmed the university’s readiness to support the Federal Government’s programmes and policy direction.