Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has appealed to state governments not to scrap the ministry of information in their states.
Idris, according to a statement shared with Saturday PUNCH by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, made the call at the 48th National Council of Information and National Orientation in Kaduna, with the theme “Enhancing Public Information Management for Inclusive Governance: The Renewed Hope Agenda in Focus.”
The minister noted that the role of the ministry of information at national and state levels was significant.
He said, “These ministries serve as the bridge between government policies and the citizens they are designed to benefit, thereby fostering transparency, accountability, and trust, which are essential pillars of any thriving democracy.”
Speaking on the theme of the council, he stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu was a call for transformational leadership at all levels and people-oriented governance.
Idris further stressed that to foster inclusion in policy formulation, information managers should leverage technology to enhance the speed, accuracy, and reach of their messaging while also integrating artificial intelligence for better audience engagement and feedback analysis.
The Minister added that countering misinformation and fake news remained critical in information management, adding that fake news posed a threat to governance and public trust.
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