Olusegun ARIYO
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu actively listens to the citizens of Nigeria and takes their feedback into account before making necessary adjustments to government policies.
Idris made these remarks in Abuja on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the ministry by a delegation from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, led by its Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is not solely tasked with communicating government policies but also with relaying the opinions of citizens back to the administration.
Idris noted that this approach demonstrates Tinubu’s commitment to engaging with Nigerians and addressing their concerns as his administration rolls out its policies.
“Whenever I sit with him, the first question he asks is: ‘What are Nigerians saying?’” the minister said.
He elaborated that the President’s attentiveness to public opinion signifies that governance is a dynamic process, allowing for modifications when necessary.
“He is not merely a president who disseminates information or announces policy decisions. He also seeks to understand what Nigerians think,” Idris further stated.
The minister indicated that his ministry thus operates a bidirectional communication system, transmitting government decisions to the populace while also bringing their perspectives back to the government.
He added that the renewed emphasis on national orientation has further enhanced the government’s capacity to grasp public sentiment at the grassroots level.
Idris noted that the National Orientation Agency had more than 800 offices across the country, giving it a broad reach into communities.
He said the agency could gather views from farmers, artisans and other Nigerians, providing the government with a clearer picture of the concerns and expectations of citizens.
The minister also assured the NIPSS delegation that the ministry would support its research into the creative economy, which forms the focus of the institute’s Senior Executive Course 48.
The former Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was also in attendance.
Earlier, Omotayo said NIPSS had selected the creative economy, known as the “Orange Economy”, as the theme for this year’s senior executive course.
He said the research would examine the opportunities and challenges within the sector and its potential contribution to President Tinubu’s ambition of building a trillion-dollar economy.
Omotayo noted that the course participants had visited seven Nigerian states and several countries to study creative industries and gather data for the research.
He disclosed that NIPSS was also planning a National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy to bring stakeholders together and highlight the sector’s potential.
According to him, the creative economy covers about 48 areas and has significant capacity to generate wealth and employment.
He cited Nigeria’s music industry as an example, noting that some Nigerian artistes had earned billions of naira through digital music platforms.
“We believe this particular sector can actually be one of the major sectors of the economy that will solve the problem of real unemployment,” Omotayo said.
He appealed to the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to partner with NIPSS in organising and promoting the proposed summit.
