The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has urged relevant stakeholders to prioritise trust and promote Africa-driven narratives in global communication systems.
Malam Ali M. Ali, disclosed this at the maiden national conference, organised by the International Communication Association (ICA) Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, one of the most important issues before us today is trust. Around the world, public trust in information is under pressure. False narratives spread quickly, and facts are often contested.
“For countries like Nigeria, this has real consequences for governance, security, and national cohesion,” Idris said.
The minister said that rebuilding trust required communication anchored on truth, responsibility, and accountability among governments, media, academia, and civil society.
He stressed the need for Africa to tell its own stories, highlighting resilience, innovation, culture, and progress, rather than relying on externally shaped narratives.
Idris said Nigeria’s vibrant media space encouraged public discourse but required commitment to accuracy, fairness, and responsible communication practices.
He said the conference themed “Global Communication Shifts and Implications for Africa” was timely, noting that rapid changes in information production and consumption were reshaping politics, economies, and citizen-government relations globally.
The minister said digital platforms had amplified Africa’s voice globally but also exposed societies to misinformation, disinformation, and declining trust in institutions.
“For Africa, these shifts present both opportunity and responsibility. On one hand, digital platforms and new technologies have given Africans a stronger voice in global conversations.
“On the other hand, they have also exposed our societies to new risks, including misinformation disinformation, and the erosion of trust in institutions.
He identified Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies as transformative tools, warning of risks such as bias, manipulation, and information control.
“Africa must not remain a passive consumer of these technologies. We must actively shape how they are used.
“This requires investment in research, education, and policy frameworks that reflect our realities and protect our values.
“It also calls for stronger collaboration between governments, universities, and the private sector,” he added.
He said young people were central to the future of communication, acknowledging their roles as innovators, creators, and influencers across media and technology sectors.
Idris emphasised that effective communication was critical to democracy, promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive citizen participation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to improving access to information and strengthening responsible media practices.
On his part, the Rector, West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA), Ken Okere, called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to address gaps in communication education.
Okere, represented by the Executive Director, Business Development of WABMA, Mike Yawe, said global communication was undergoing rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence, algorithms and the spread of misinformation.
According to him, digital platforms now wield more influence than traditional publishers, shaping political outcomes, social cohesion and economic opportunities.
“Africa is not outside this shift. We are at the centre of it. We are one of the fastest growing digital populations in the world.
“We are producing content scale. We are consuming information at unprecedented levels. But here is the concern, are we also shaping the systems behind that communication or we are simply participating in structures designed elsewhere?” he asked.
Okere identified a gap between theoretical knowledge acquired in universities and the practical skills required in the evolving media ecosystem.
He said many graduates lacked hands-on experience in areas such as real-time content production, platform algorithms and digital tools.
According to him, the development signals the need for communication education models to evolve beyond traditional approaches.
Meanwhile, Yakubu Ozohu-Suleiman, an Associate Professor of Journalism and Communication at Nile University, called on African scholars and media professionals to reconceptualise news values to align with the continent’s development aspirations.
Ozohu-Suleiman said the current global media framework often underrepresent Africa’s progress, stressing the need for a shift toward more balanced and development-focused reporting.
He said Africa must build capacity to attract positive news coverage and tell its own stories from a growth and opportunity perspective.
He also emphasised the need to strengthen communication infrastructure across the continent to enable timely and effective global engagement.
He said that improved media systems would help project Africa’s rightful image and enhance its competitiveness in the global information space.
