Gov Yusuf, Information Minister Advocate ethical journalism, fight against misinformation at Arewa media
Kola Oyelere, Kano
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, have called on journalists and media practitioners to uphold ethical journalism, professionalism and responsible reporting as key pillars of democratic governance and national development.
They made the call on Monday at the inaugural Arewa Media Summit held at the Government House, Kano.
The summit, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment in collaboration with the Kano State Government, was themed: “Government-Citizen Accord:
Accountability, Responsibility and Ethical Media Practice.”
Declaring the summit open, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described a well-informed citizenry as fundamental to democracy, saying the media plays a vital role in promoting transparency, accountability and public trust.
“The media plays a vital role in educating the public, promoting transparency and supporting national development. While holding government accountable, the media must also uphold professionalism, ethics and patriotism,” the governor said.
Yusuf noted that responsible journalism and access to credible information were critical to the successful implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda.
Highlighting achievements of his administration, the governor said Kano became the first state in Nigeria to establish the positions of Senior Special Reporters and Special Reporters, deploying more than 150 young people across ministries, departments, agencies and the state’s 44 local government areas to strengthen government communication and citizen engagement.
He urged other state governments to adopt similar initiatives, saying they enhance public participation in governance and create
opportunities for young people.
Yusuf also outlined other media reforms undertaken by his administration, including partnerships with media organisations, capacity-building programmes for journalists, campaigns against fake news, misinformation and disinformation, and the promotion of responsible political engagement.
According to him, Kano facilitated the establishment of Northern Nigeria’s first online media charter, sponsored the professional registration of journalists and information officers, established a Multimedia and Digital Media Department within the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, and trained over 400 social media users on responsible digital communication.
The governor further disclosed that the state had constituted a Media and Information Policy Committee to develop a comprehensive framework for the sector while advancing efforts to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act to promote transparency and citizen participation.
Describing misinformation as a major threat to national unity and public confidence, Yusuf called for greater collaboration among governments, media organisations, civil society groups and citizens to combat fake news.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for journalists to operate freely and professionally while commending President Tinubu for sustaining constitutional guarantees of press freedom and freedom of expression.
Yusuf also praised Minister Mohammed Idris for strengthening government communication and acknowledged the efforts of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, for organising the summit in Kano.
In his keynote address, Idris urged media professionals in Northern Nigeria to embrace accuracy, fairness, verification and balanced reporting while resisting misinformation and sensationalism.
“The future of Northern Nigeria will depend not only on investments in infrastructure but also on investments in credible journalism, responsible communication and ethical storytelling,” the minister said.
He observed that digital technology had transformed every smartphone into a potential newsroom, making professional journalism more important than ever in distinguishing verified information from rumours and propaganda.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to press freedom, describing an independent and responsible media as indispensable to transparency, accountability and democratic governance.
He urged journalists to report not only insecurity and other challenges facing Northern Nigeria but also stories of innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, education and community development to present a balanced picture of the region.
Idris highlighted key achievements of the Tinubu administration, including major infrastructure projects such as the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway and the reconstruction of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, as well as educational interventions through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, digital skills programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives.
He also announced the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja, describing it as the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 institute dedicated exclusively to media and information literacy, alongside the rollout of the Digital Switch Over (FreeTV) initiative to expand digital broadcasting and local content production.
Speaking earlier, Abdulaziz called for stronger collaboration among governments, citizens, journalists and social media influencers to promote accountability, ethical journalism and national unity.
He stressed that governments must remain transparent, citizens should rely on verified information, while journalists must continue to serve as impartial bridges between the people and public institutions.
“Ethical media is not a luxury; it is infrastructure for unity, progress and growth,” Abdulaziz said.
He cautioned social media influencers against spreading unverified information, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that misinformation could undermine national cohesion.
Abdulaziz disclosed that over 100 APC and Tinubu administration social media supporters had been trained on communicating government programmes and also announced the launch of the Gani-Ya-Kori-Ji project inspection initiative to showcase federal and state government projects across Northern Nigeria.
He said the summit reflected President Tinubu’s commitment to dialogue, free speech and democratic engagement, urging governments, citizens, journalists and digital content creators to work together in promoting responsible communication and strengthening public trust.