The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building strategic global partnerships to counter false and damaging narratives about Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated this at the UK Edition of the Renewed Hope Global Dialogue held in London on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris said collaboration with international partners was central to Nigeria’s efforts to rebrand and reposition itself under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He identified disinformation campaigns alleging state-sponsored religious attacks as one of the major reputational challenges facing the country.
“We have been very robust in our rebuttals, making it clear that these are despicable narratives being peddled by people who know nothing about Nigeria,” he said.
The Minister called on Nigeria’s international allies to support efforts aimed at promoting an accurate and credible image of the country.
Idris said the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation was working with strategic partners to project Nigeria positively, stressing that a national brand must be “designed, crafted, and marketed deliberately and painstakingly.”
He disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), had established the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) to promote national pride and enhance the country’s global image.
“The NRMG has recently unveiled the Nigeria Global Reputation Management Project, managed by renowned branding experts and professionals,” he said.
The Minister further announced that Oct. 15 would henceforth be observed as Nigeria Reputation Day to raise awareness about the importance of national image.
Idris also revealed that Nigeria would host the 2026 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference and the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja, becoming the first African country to host both events in the same year.
He highlighted some of the country’s recent diplomatic and economic achievements, noting that President Tinubu’s foreign policy vision, known as the Tinubu Doctrine — anchored on Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora — was beginning to yield results.
“At the beginning of this year, Nigeria was admitted as a BRICS partner country, opening up new opportunities for cooperation with some of the world’s biggest and fastest-developing nations,” he said.
“Just this week, a Nigerian was elected Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), while the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) emerged as President of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting,” he added.
Idris also noted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List on Friday, describing it as evidence of the success of government reforms to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
“These milestones demonstrate very clearly to the world that Nigeria is serious about financial transparency and enforcement,” he said.
The Minister listed some key domestic reforms, including the unified exchange rate policy, national student loan scheme, new minimum wage, national consumer credit initiative, Presidential CNG programme, and the creation of five regional development commissions as well as a Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
He said the reforms were designed to fast-track Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading global economy.
Idris reaffirmed that the Federal Government would continue to engage with international partners to sustain progress and promote mutual understanding.
“We are a listening, engaging government, and we invite you to seek out more information about the fantastic things happening in Nigeria and explore ways to partner with us to take the transformation to the next level,” he said.