KEY-NOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION, ALHAJI MOHAMED IDRIS, fnipr, AT A WORKSHOP ON STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY RADIO IN NIGERIA HELD AT REIZ CONTINENTAL HOTEL FROM THE 2ND-3RD DECEMBER, 2025
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It is an honour to address you today at this important capacity-building workshop dedicated to strengthening the operations of community radio stations in Nigeria and enhancing our national response to the growing threats of misinformation and disinformation.
2.This workshop could not have come at a more crucial moment. As a nation, we are navigating an increasingly complex communication environment in which facts compete with falsehoods, verified information struggles against deliberate distortions, and community trust is often shaken by misinformation crafted to cause confusion or conflict. In such a climate, the role of community radio as a trusted, accessible, and people-centred platform has never been more essential.
3.Community Radio stations occupy a unique position in Nigeria’s media ecosystem. They are the closest and most trusted channels for millions of citizens, especially in rural and underserved communities. They translate national priorities into local realities, give voice to people who are often unheard, and foster the social cohesion that binds us as a nation. When community radio thrives, communities thrive. When it falters, we all feel the consequences. Strengthening the operational capacity of these stations means strengthening the very foundation of democratic participation and responsible citizenship.
4. Yet, community radio practitioners today face unprecedented challenges. The explosion of digital platforms means that rumours, manipulated content, and propaganda now travel with unprecedented speed. Misinformation has become a tool used to exploit social tensions, undermine institutions, and mislead the public. Misinformation and disinformation erode trust, distort public understanding, pollute democratic discourse, and can even put lives at risk. While technology has expanded the reach of information, it has also expanded the reach of falsehoods. To safeguard our nation, we must respond decisively and intelligently.
This response begins with strong, ethical, community-focused broadcasting. Community radio stations stand at the frontline of engagement with citizens. You are the first to hear concerns, the first to clarify issues, the first to debunk rumours, and often the first to restore calm in moments of uncertainty.
5.This workshop, therefore, is not simply a training exercise, it is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope strategy to build resilience, strengthen fact-checking culture, reinforce professional ethics, and empower media actors to counter harmful narratives with accuracy and integrity. It is a demonstration of our commitment to strengthen the operations of Community Radio Stations, making them more effective and viable to play their designed roles. By implementing policies that will enable operators access to finance, creative contents/programming, Community Radio operators can effectively sustain their operations and contribute more to actualizing national goals.
6.Distinguished Participants, allow me to highlight a major milestone that underscores Nigeria’s growing leadership in global media and information literacy efforts. UNESCO has approved Abuja, Nigeria, as the host of a Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute, the first of its kind anywhere in the world. This pioneering institute is hosted at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), and serves as a global hub for research, policy innovation, training, and capacity development in media and information literacy. Its establishment places Nigeria at the centre of global efforts to confront misinformation, enhance digital literacy, build media-literate societies and empower citizens with the tools needed to critically navigate today’s complex information landscape. This is an achievement we must all be proud of, and one that significantly complements the objectives of this workshop.
7. I assure you that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is determined to create a healthier, safer, and more credible information environment. We are strengthening policies, expanding media literacy initiatives, collaborating with partners, and enhancing regulatory frameworks to ensure that Community radio stations remain resilient pillars of public communication and national development.
8. But success does not lie solely in policies or institutions, it lies in people, in practitioners like you: the reporters, presenters, producers, editors, managers, and volunteers who give life to community radio and maintain the trust of millions of Nigerians. As participants in this workshop, the responsibility rests with you to translate the knowledge gained here into stronger editorial judgment, improved fact-checking routines, better community engagement, and more responsible broadcasting.
9.I commend our partners: UNESCO, NATCOM, AFRICMIL and the National Broadcasting Commission for their collaboration and unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s information landscape. Together, we have consistently championed professionalism, ethics, and capacity development within the broadcast sector and among media practitioners who serve as the frontline defenders of truth.
10. As we begin this programme, I encourage you to engage deeply, ask questions, challenge assumptions, build networks, and commit to elevating the quality of information that reaches your communities. Together, we can build a more informed citizenry, a healthier public discourse, and a more resilient nation.
Thank you, and I wish you all a productive and impactful workshop.
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