From Sodiq Omolaoye, Abuja

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday, restated President Bola Tinubu’s committed to the protection and promotion of free speech and media freedom in the country. 
 
He gave the assurance in Abuja at the second Spokespersons Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), with the theme, “Integrity and the Evolving Roles of Spokespersons in Leadership Communication.”
 
Idris pledged the Federal Government’s dedication to broaden the nation’s vibrant media ecosystem, and grow the economic and investment opportunities within it.
 
“The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration is committed to free speech and responsible creative expression. On our part, we will continue to work to broaden our nation’s vibrant media ecosystem, and grow the economic and investment opportunities within it,” Idris said.
 
The summit brought together communication professionals, former ministers of information, public relations experts, media executives, and spokespersons from across the federation.
 
The minister disclosed that Nigeria was at an advanced stage of establishing the world’s first UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute in Abuja, to be located at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). 
 
According to him, the initiative would equip Nigerians with the tools to critically evaluate media content and combat the spread of false information.In his keynote address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, observed that only effective communication by spokespersons could change public perception of the government and its institutions.
 
President and Chairman of the Council of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, described the event as a historic moment for the public relations community.