Govt’s Education Reforms Creating Opportunities For Young Nigerians – Minister

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris has said the federal government’s ongoing reforms in the education sector were expanding access, improving stability and enhancing the quality of university education in Nigeria.

Idris made the remarks in Abuja yesterday when he received the Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja (formerly University of Abuja), Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, who led the university’s top management team on a courtesy visit to his office.

According to the minister, key initiatives of the Tinubu administration are already yielding tangible benefits for young Nigerians.

“Initiatives such as 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,” he said.

He said under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the federal government was implementing comprehensive education reforms designed to ensure access, stability and quality in Nigerian universities.

Idris reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with tertiary institutions, particularly in advancing media education, promoting responsible journalism and addressing the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of digital technologies.

Describing the visit by the university management as timely and strategic, the minister said the Ministry of Information and National Orientation remained a service-oriented institution dedicated to supporting academia through visibility, effective public communication, mentorship and policy alignment.

He assured the delegation of the ministry’s readiness for 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 was in line with global best practices.

He stressed the need for closer interaction between media professionals and students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice.

Idris also highlighted the federal government’s leadership in promoting media and information literacy, citing Nigeria’s hosting of the UNESCO Category II Media and Information Literacy Institute—the first of its kind globally—as part of national efforts to combat fake news and strengthen public trust in information.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Professor Fawehinmi congratulated the minister on his leadership in the information sector and 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.