The Minister of Information and National Orientation,Mohammed Idris, has urged communication professionals to deploy truth-basedpublic relations as a strategic tool to counter the false narrative of aso-called genocide against Christians being propagated against Nigeria. Speaking at the National Unveiling of the World PublicRelations Forum, WPRF, Abuja 2026, held on Monday in Abuja, the minister warnedthat Nigeria faces existential reputational threats from foreign actors whoseek to distort facts and weaken national unity. “We must come to terms with existential reputational threatsto our national brand, in which external purveyors of untruth aremischaracterizing our nation as a destination for a so-called persecution ofpeople based on their religious faiths. “This is propaganda externally woven by those who want toweaken our unity. For the umpteenth time, I am emphatic that there’s no iota oftruth in the claim of a ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria.” Idris emphasized that such disinformation campaigns aredesigned to sow division and must be met with a coordinated communicationresponse anchored on facts, integrity, and professional ethics. “I therefore urge us to use the instruments of publicrelations, crafted in truths and facts, to vehemently reject these despicablesingle narratives about Nigeria,” he said. Idris stressed that responsible communication is now anational duty in the digital era where the speed of information has surpassedthe speed of reflection. He observed that “words now travel faster than thought, andopinions often outrun truth,” underscoring the need for communicators to beguided by truth, empathy, and service to the public good. He linked this moral imperative to President Bola Tinubu’sRenewed Hope Agenda, noting: “The Renewed Hope vision seeks to rebuild trustbetween government and the people—trust anchored on openness, engagement, andshared purpose. Communication is the lifeblood of that trust.” As host of the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum2026, Nigeria, he said, is taking its rightful place as a leader in globalcommunication ethics. “Today’s gathering is a bold statement—that under thevisionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,Nigeria is stepping forward as the Biggest, Brightest, and Boldest voice forethical and responsible communication in Africa and beyond,” Idris added. The minister commended the Global Alliance for PublicRelations and Communication Management, GA, led by Professor Justin Green, andthe Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, under Dr Ike Neliaku, forbringing global attention to Nigeria through the WPRF hosting rights. He recalled President Tinubu’s assurance to theinternational community that “You have no better friend and partner thanNigeria.” In a stirring call to action, the minister charged allcommunicators, journalists, and public officers to rise to the challenge ofresponsible communication. “Let this unveiling today be a call to conscience. Topractitioners: hold the line of truth. To the media: inform with integrity. Topublic officers: communicate with transparency. To citizens: speak withempathy,” he stated. He is optimistic that WPRF Abuja 2026 will be remembered asa milestone in reshaping Nigeria’s global image. “Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is reshaping itsglobal image. Let this Forum be remembered as the moment when Africa’s largestdemocracy led the world in defining what it means to communicate withconscience,” he said. The theme of the WPRF Abuja 2026 is “ResponsibleCommunication: The Voice of the World”
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