The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu actively listens to Nigerians and adjusts government policies based on public feedback.
Idris made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, led by its Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo.
The minister said the Ministry of Information and National Orientation has a dual role of communicating government policies to citizens and also conveying citizens’ views back to the government.
“Whenever I sit with him, the first question he asks is: ‘What are Nigerians saying?’” Idris said.
He noted that this shows Tinubu’s commitment to engaging with the public as his administration implements policies. According to him, governance is a dynamic process that requires adjustments when necessary.
“He is not merely a president who disseminates information or announces policy decisions. He also seeks to understand what Nigerians think,” the minister added.
Idris said the renewed focus on national orientation has helped government better understand public sentiment at the grassroots. He noted that the National Orientation Agency has over 800 offices nationwide, enabling it to gather opinions from farmers, artisans and other Nigerians.
The minister also pledged the ministry’s support for NIPSS research on the creative economy, which is the focus of the institute’s Senior Executive Course 48.
Former Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was also present at the meeting.
Earlier, Prof. Omotayo said NIPSS selected the creative economy, also called the “Orange Economy,” as the theme for this year’s course. He said the research will assess opportunities, challenges and the sector’s potential contribution to Tinubu’s goal of building a trillion-dollar economy.
Omotayo said participants had visited seven Nigerian states and several other countries to study creative industries. He disclosed plans for a National Summit and Exhibition on the Orange Economy to bring stakeholders together.
He described the creative economy as covering about 48 areas with huge potential for wealth and job creation. Citing the music industry, he said some Nigerian artistes have earned billions of naira through digital 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 urged the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to partner with NIPSS to organise and promote the proposed summit.