By Deji Abdulwahab
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has pledged the media’s support for the forthcoming National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) summit on the orange economy in the country.
Idris made the commitment on Tuesday when members of the National Executive Course 48 of NIPSS, led by the Institute’s Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that orange economy, also known as the creative economy, refers to economic activities driven largely by creativity, culture, innovation and intellectual property.
The minister described the initiative as timely, saying it would contribute to the development of entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth in the country.
He said the Ministry of Information and National Orientation would make relevant government agencies available to support the participants in achieving the objectives of the summit.
The minister assured the delegation that the ministry would not allow concerns about the projected cost of media publicity to undermine the success of the programme.
He said the N250 million media support estimate mentioned by the organisers should not discourage them, adding that the ministry would explore broader government support for the initiative.
According to him, the ministry will work with its agencies and other relevant government institutions to ensure that the summit receive adequate publicity and national visibility.
He noted that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation had a responsibility to communicate government policies to Nigerians while also conveying citizens’ views and concerns back to government.
The minister stressed that information flow between government and the people should be a two-way process rather than a one-way communication channel.
He expressed the ministry’s commitment to communicating government policies with respect, responsibility and a strong sense of patriotism.
Idris said President Bola Tinubu had demonstrated the importance of feedback by regularly seeking to know what Nigerians were saying about government policies and programmes.
He said such an approach was an important attribute of effective leadership, adding that leaders must be willing to listen to the people and make adjustments where necessary.
The minister said the ministry would continue to serve as a bridge between government and citizens by providing credible information and transmitting citizens’ concerns to the appropriate authorities.
He described the Ministry of Information and National Orientation as the parent ministry responsible for coordinating several public information institutions and agencies.
He listed the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and other institutions, including relevant regulatory agencies, among those under the ministry.
Idris said the Tinubu administration had also placed renewed emphasis on national orientation as an important component of governance and nation-building.
According to him, National Orientation Agency (NOA) has a wide presence across the country and is strategically positioned to provide government with information about citizens’ views and experiences.
He noted that the agency had offices and personnel spread across the country, enabling it to reach communities and gather information from people at the grassroots.
Idris acknowledged that funding remained one of the challenges confronting NOA but said the Federal Government was making efforts to address such challenges.
He said information gathered from farmers, artisans, mechanics, vulcanisers and other citizens could help government better understand the situation across the country.
Idris therefore assured the NIPSS delegation that the ministry would make relevant media agencies available to support its research and summit on the orange economy.
Earlier, Omotayo said the delegation was at the ministry to seek its support and partnership for the successful organisation of the national summit.
He said the participants needed the ministry’s assistance, particularly in dealing with the media and securing adequate publicity for the programme.
Omotayo disclosed that media organisations had presented an estimated bill of about N250 million for publicity and other media-related support for the summit.
He said the delegation was optimistic that the minister’s intervention would significantly reduce the financial burden and ensure extensive media coverage of the event.
The NIPSS director-general explained that the National Executive Course was designed to undertake research into themes considered important to national development, including themes selected by the President.
He said Course 48 had been mandated to examine the entrepreneurial dimensions, challenges and prospects of Nigeria’s orange economy and determine how the sector could contribute to the country’s ambition of achieving a trillion-dollar economy by 2027.
He added that the forthcoming national summit and exhibition would provide an opportunity to present their findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture and Managing Partner, Bruit Costaud (Bruee Costo) as well as Nnamdi Atupulazi, Public Relations and Communications Manager, Bruee Costo also attended the meeting.
Others were Mr Abraham Agogo, Technical Assistant to NIPSS D-G, Joe Mutah, Member, National Planning Committee and Mrs Dorothy Duruaku, Director, International Tourism Relations and Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.(NAN) www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Funmilayo Adeyemi