Information Minister Mohammed Idris Conferred With ‘Image Maker Award 2026’

The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the Image Maker Award 2026, conferred on him by Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of the Vanguard newspaper, as a testament to the determination to build trust and to the broader communication ecosystem supporting the Federal Government’s reform efforts.

Idris, who received the award at an elaborate ceremony held on Friday at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, said the recognition comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria, marked by bold reforms and a commitment to repositioning the nation for sustainable growth.

“This award is a testament to the trust we strive to build with every Nigerian. Communication is at the heart of governance, and it must foster confidence, unity, and hope,” said Idris, adding, “Communication must not only inform but also build trust.”

He further highlighted the importance of transparency and regular engagement with the public and the media, noting that fostering open dialogue has been crucial in bridging the gap between governance and public perception.

The Minister also underscored the vital role of timely, accurate information in matters of national security, stressing ongoing collaboration with security agencies and media partners to maintain public calm and strengthen confidence in government efforts.

He also recognized the indispensable roles of the media, his colleagues in government, and the Ministry’s dedicated staff in advancing Nigeria’s communication framework. He commended Vanguard Media Limited for its commitment to excellence and for celebrating national service.

“As we navigate major policy shifts—including the removal of fuel subsidies, foreign exchange reforms, and fiscal restructuring—our approach has centered on clarity, consistency, and credibility. We are committed to ensuring that government decisions are communicated with empathy and responsibility, always highlighting their long-term benefits for all Nigerians,” Idris emphasized.

Mohammed Idris

He reaffirmed his commitment to “upholding the highest standards of public communication, anchored on truth, transparency, and accountability.” The award, he explained, “is not an endpoint, but a call to do more for the Nigerian people.”

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The award ceremony was attended by distinguished Nigerians, including the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Peter Mbah; the Executive Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Agbu Kefas; the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim; the Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah; and a host of others.

Rabiu Ibrahim, mnipr
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Saturday, April 25, 2026

FG Deepens Social Protection Drive as Minister Bernard M. Doro Engages Beneficiaries In Kwara, Reinforces Poverty Exit Strategy

The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s social protection architecture and advancing a structured pathway for poverty exit, as he led a high-level Beneficiary and Stakeholder Engagement under the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HoPE-CT) Programme in Kwara State.

The engagement forms part of an ongoing nationwide interface across the six geopolitical zones, designed to assess programme performance, gather direct feedback from beneficiaries, and ensure that policy decisions are informed by real-time experiences at the grassroots. It also aligns with the Federal Government’s broader commitment to delivering inclusive, people-centered interventions that promote dignity, resilience, and long-term economic stability.

Addressing a diverse audience comprising beneficiaries, government officials, development partners, Civil Society
Organisations and community leaders. The Honourable Minister underscored the importance of direct engagement in shaping effective policy outcomes. He noted that, governance must be responsive and grounded in the lived realities of citizens, particularly those at the receiving end of social protection interventions.

“I needed to come down myself—to see, to hear, and to understand what is working and what must change,” the Minister stated, emphasizing that firsthand engagement provides invaluable insights that cannot be captured through reports alone. He further noted that, such engagements are critical to ensuring that programmes remain responsive, accountable, and impactful.

The Minister stressed that the HoPE-CT Programme is not merely a disbursement mechanism but a strategic intervention designed to support vulnerable households while laying the foundation for long-term economic empowerment. According to him, “government support must not end at disbursement; it must translate into measurable progress, improved livelihoods, and ultimately, self-reliance.”

He further articulated the Ministry’s evolving direction under the One Humanitarian – One Poverty Response System, explaining that, the approach is aimed at eliminating fragmentation in service delivery and ensuring that all interventions are coordinated, data-driven, and outcome-focused. He noted that this system is being designed to create a seamless pathway through which beneficiaries can transition from vulnerability to resilience and ultimately exit poverty in a structured and sustainable manner.

Dr. Doro also used the opportunity to address recurring misconceptions surrounding the programme, particularly the aggregation of beneficiary figures across different tranches. He clarified that beneficiary transitions across phases are largely influenced by validation mechanisms, including the National Identification Number (NIN) process, and should not be interpreted as entirely separate populations.

Responding to testimonies, the Honourable Minister assured beneficiaries that their feedback would be carefully documented and integrated into ongoing programe refinements. He reiterated that, the ministry is committed to ensuring that, interventions are not only delivered but monitored to guarantee real and lasting impact

He further emphasized that, the next phase of implementation will focus on strengthening linkages between cash support and complementary interventions such as livelihood development, skills acquisition and cooperative structures all aimed at enabling beneficiaries to transition towards economic independence.

He said, the ministry remains committed to working closely with state governments, development partners and community stakeholders to ensure that social protection interventions are effectively delivered, transparently managed and aligned with the broader goal of lifting Nigerians out of poverty.

Adding that, as the nation wide engagement continues, the ministry will sustain it’s focus on building a unified, responsive and results- driven system that not only supports vulnerable populations but empowers them to achieve sustainable livelihoods and long- term economic stability.

In her welcome remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Social Development, Kwara State, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, commended the Federal Government for its sustained commitment to social protection and the continued implementation of the HoPE-CT Programme across the State. She described the initiative as a critical intervention that has significantly improved the welfare of vulnerable households and strengthened social inclusion.

Dr. Imam further reaffirmed the Kwara State Government’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Federal Ministry, noting that such partnerships are essential to expanding programme reach, enhancing delivery efficiency, and ensuring that the benefits of social protection interventions are felt across communities.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Acting General Manager of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), Dr. Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini, and the Honourable Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, both of whom applauded the Federal Government’s efforts in strengthening social protection systems.

All the speakers noted that, the HoPE-CT Programme has not only provided immediate financial relief to vulnerable households but has also contributed to restoring dignity, improving livelihoods, and strengthening community resilience. They further emphasized the importance of sustaining and expanding such interventions to ensure broader reach and long-term impact.

A major highlight of the engagement was the interactive session between the Honourable Minister and beneficiaries, which provided a platform for participants to share firsthand accounts of how the programme has impacted their lives.

Bernard M. Doro

Amongst the numerous testimonies,
Abubakar Olayinka of Balogun Fulani Ward in Ilorin South Local Government Area, one of the beneficiaries, narrated how he utilized the support received to establish a small-scale pure water business, which has since become a steady source of income for his household. He expressed appreciation for the intervention and appealed to the Government to sustain and expand the programme to reach more vulnerable Nigerians.

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Another testimony, a female beneficiary shared how the support received enabled her to purchase essential medication for her ailing father, describing the intervention as timely and life-saving.

She noted that without the assistance, accessing the required treatment would have been extremely difficult, and commended the Government for prioritizing the needs of vulnerable families.

The event recorded the presence of several dignitaries and key stakeholders, including the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the Chairman, House Committee on Social Development, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Olushola Odetundun, representatives of development partners, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other senior government officials.

Janet McDickson Noah
Director, Information and Public Relations.

Tinubu Government inaugurates 2MW Solar Project Worth N3.8b At Kano University

Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology [Credit: NewsWireNGR]
The federal government, through the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), on Friday inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony of a 2-megawatt solar hybrid project worth N3.8 billion at the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, in Kano State.

The project, under the flagship Renewed Hope Solarisation project of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, also witnessed the commissioning of 200 solar-powered streetlights within the institution.

The director-general of the Commission, Mustapha Abdullahi, alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu-Udeh (SAN), carried out the groundbreaking ceremony at the university.

Mr Abdullahi said contractors handling the project had been given a mandate of three months to complete the work.

He said the project was designed to provide sustainable energy generation for the institution and address its monthly electricity expenses of N22.4 million.

“Today’s groundbreaking at Wudil follows our ceremony at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in September 2025, where a 4MW system is being installed, and last week’s groundbreaking at Bayero University Kano.

“Each project is a standalone delivery and a building block in a national programme covering hospitals and tertiary institutions in all 36 states and the FCT.

“The contract for this project, worth N3.8 billion, has been awarded to Safiatu Global Resources Limited with a firm three-month completion mandate, no variation in contract sum, and full accountability under the Commission’s project monitoring framework,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi said every groundbreaking under the programme is preceded by rigorous technical work, including energy audits, load assessments, site surveys, and system design.

According to him, “Our team arrived on this campus with that precise mandate, and the findings were unambiguous. ADUSTECH is home to a combined population of 24,339 persons: 2,462 staff, and hostel facilities providing 5,200 bed spaces.

“Against that scale of activity, the assessed actual energy demand on this campus ranges between 12.3 and 16.4 megawatts. Yet the total connected load on utility records stands at only 8.26 megawatts, a figure that already exceeds what the grid reliably delivers.”

He noted that the institution spends an average of N22.4 million every month on electricity bills, while its entire on-site diesel backup capacity amounts to a mere 2.07 megavolt-amperes.

“This is the energy reality that confronts a university of this mandate and ambition. It is unacceptable, and it is what we are here to begin addressing.”

He said that based on the full load profile and the 59 hectares of available land identified within a 2.5-kilometre radius of the campus, the Energy Commission’s technical recommendation is a 7-megawatt solar mini-grid as the complete solution for energy needs.

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Also speaking, Mr Tochukwu-Udeh, said the installation of the 2MW project in the institution is not an act of philanthropy, but a strategic national policy and national action under the Renewed Hope Solarization project.

Kano University

He said the federal government is making these investments because it believes in what the institution and others are doing in terms of groundbreaking innovations to provide solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by Nigerians.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Musa Tukur-Yakasai, said the landmark event represents not just an infrastructural milestone but a bold step towards sustainable energy, innovation, and academic excellence.

Mr Tukur-Yakasai said the intervention is a significant step in strengthening the institution’s academic and research capacity.