It was to a steady start in late August 2023 that the Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi(MIM), FNIPR, resumed as the helsman in the Information Ministry of President Tinubu administration; “steady” oh yes,this is the meaning, thus, the transition is without much ado as it’s a familiar terrain; and what more, he’s a practicing technocrats and rightly an information,imaging and public relations merchant with requisite experience; so well with the crowning glory of Principles, the man is his own. To perfect and achieve success for Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” Information shouldn’t take a back sit, information is key to every aspect of development national and international.
MIM being no stranger to the field, he started gradually and methodologically to change the perception of what it is and what it supposed to be, that the information arm of a government shouldn’t be for”Propaganda” but it should be used to represent facts of governance, because the citizenry have the right to know what’s going on in the government they choose; with this mind-set MIM launched action to instill the supposed ideological direction for the information ministry, first by calling for intensive meetings, and in series, between himself and heads of parastatals under the ministry, individually and collectively. Touring all these agencies to know their needs and have first hand information and state of their working tools, equipments and structures was hot on the heels of series of meetings; along the line new heads were ushered to strengthened and enhance the various parastatals and agencies under the information ministry. All the while he marshalled his functions and duties in the government by being prompt and up to date and dishing out press briefings and releases of the bi-monthly Federal executive council meetings, including special foras and meetings he’s supposed to be part of as the Information Minister; representing Mr President in conferences home and abroad.
MIM all the while continue to strengthened professionalism in agencies and parastatals under him through conferences and seminars, he made it a point of priority to appear in all, to spell out,explain and promote many policies of Mr President, such conferences includes but not limited to NIPR AGM, Nigerian Guild of Editors Conference, Newspaper Proprietors, UNESCO, UNGA,COP 28, Nigeria-Saudi Summit, Annual Advertisers Conference, JNI central council meeting and many others. His presence in the media is prompt; granting interviews, dropping press releases, making appearances in national live programs on cable and satellite televisions, responding to critiquing by stating the right policy direction of the government whenever it’s distorted; alas his own constituency of Niger, home, wasn’t really forgotten as he indeed changed a few lives by blessing them with a life changing gifts, jobs.
For whose philosophy is “excellence and work” breaking of new grounds is rearing to begin; on this focus and momentum, MIM looks like the Information Minister which is going to dwarf the achievements of all earlier information ministers put together, for he has already achieved a two year worth of work even when he’s just four months into office, imagine when he clocks a year, one may not likely recognize the face of the new ministry as it may have changed positively, the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of course has a great component that shall enhance it’s coming to be in information component and the lynchpin is MIM, who is hot and firing already.
Jibrin Bala Jibrin Yikangi
is a Teacher, Poet, Playwright and a Social Activist.
He writes from Gbako.
