Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged members of the Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication industry, to actively engage in sensitizing Nigerians on the transformative economic reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration, which aimed at engendering economic growth and fostering a prosperous nation.
Idris, made the call in Abuja on Thursday while declaring open the National Advertising Conference with the theme “Marketing Communications As An Enabler of National Transformation.”
The Minister, who was represented by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, acknowledged the indispensable role being played by the advertising. Integrated marketing communication professionals in disseminating information that shapes public opinion, said they are well positioned to serve as catalysts of Nigeria’s social and economic transformation by mobilizing citizens to fully take advantage of the reforms being implemented by the administration.
“Right from Day 1, the President has been decisive – and we can see this from the tough but necessary decisions he took regarding the fuel subsidy, foreign exchange regime, and fiscal reforms, among other critical things.
“We are reforming the tax landscape, expanding the National Social Register through which social welfare is provided to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. The President has just presented his first full-year Budget to the National Assembly, the Renewed Hope Budget, focused on jobs, economic growth, macro-economic stability, ease of doing business, poverty reduction, social security, and enhanced human capital development,” he said.
Idris said the Federal Government launched an SME support programme, the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and Palliative Programs, targeting traders, artisans, transporters, vendors, and creatives with grants and low-cost loans. “1 million nano-businesses – the smallest businesses in the country – will benefit from grants of N50,000 each, while bigger businesses will be eligible to benefit from loans from a 75 Billion Naira Fund,” he said.
The Minister added that these initiatives are in addition to the ones already announced and being implemented, such as the rollout of CNG buses for deployment by State Governments, to help alleviate the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.
He said all these initiatives were not spontaneous but well crafted in the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which included Reforming the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth; Strengthening national security for peace and prosperity; Boosting agriculture to achieve food security; Unlocking energy and natural resources for sustainable development and Enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.
Others are: Focusing on education, health, and social investment as essential pillars of development and Accelerating diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovations, he said.
“We need your creative solutions and approaches, we need your unparalleled network, we need your platforms. This is not about propaganda or noise-making, no! Instead, it is about enlightenment, sensitization, and opening Nigerians’ eyes to see the various economic opportunities emerging around them,” he said.
The Minister said the government remains committed to making information available in a timely and credible manner, assuring that he would discharge his functions with utmost openness and integrity.
“As we make the information available with transparency and credibility, I ask that you as communications professionals rally around to help us convey that information without sensationalism or distortion,” he stated.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant to
Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
7th November, 2023
