The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned that false information poses a serious moral and national challenge, urging Nigerian youth and other citizens to verify information before sharing it.
Speaking at the 20th Joint Ramadan Lecture organised by the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN; and Voice of Nigeria, VON, in Kaduna on Saturday, Idris cautioned that the misuse of digital platforms can deepen division and undermine national unity if not guided by responsibility and truth.
The minister emphasised that while digital technology presents major opportunities, it also comes with moral tests that require discipline and accountability, pointing out that verification has become a compelling civic and moral responsibility.
The minister also highlighted scores of youth empowerment programmes under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that leverage technology as a pathway to economic opportunity.
He said, “Initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent, or 3MTT, programme; the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, or NELFUND; and the establishment of Africa’s first Media and Information Literacy Institute are pointers.
“Media literacy is the vaccine against misinformation; these efforts are designed to equip young Nigerians with skills needed to succeed in the digital economy.”
The minister noted that Nigeria’s youthful population remains one of its greatest strengths but warned that the country’s future depends on how well young people are guided and supported.
“A nation that fails its youth has no future. We are systematically investing in an ecosystem where digital technology becomes a ladder of opportunity.
“I urge young Nigerians to use digital platforms for constructive purposes, including education, innovation, and national development. Verify before you amplify. Pause. Interrogate the source; digital tools must be used to promote unity, knowledge, and progress rather than division,” the minister stated.
The minister further underscored Nigeria’s designation by UNESCO as host of Africa’s first Media and Information Literacy Institute, describing it as a strategic milestone that will equip citizens with critical thinking skills necessary to withstand digital manipulation and information disorder.
While reaffirming government commitment, Idris emphasised that safeguarding the nation’s moral and informational space cannot be left to government alone, calling on parents, educators, religious leaders, media practitioners, and young people themselves to embrace collective responsibility in building a digitally empowered, yet morally grounded society.
“Nigerians must recognise that faith and patriotism are complementary, stressing that responsible citizenship and spiritual consciousness must guide engagement in the digital space,” he added.
The 20th Annual Ramadan Lecture was attended by the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Dr Uba Sani (represented); the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi; the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; the Etsu Nupe; and Alhaji Dr Yahaya Abubakar.
Also in attendance were the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace; the Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; the Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Mohammed Bulama; Professor Umar A. Pate; and other distinguished guests.
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