By Chidinma Chukwu, Abuja
The Federal Government has urged Nigerian media organisations to give greater prominence to stories that highlight the country’s achievements and inspire national unity, saying journalism should not focus exclusively on criticism and negative developments.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Thursday at the launch of the Media Trust Converged Newsroom in Abuja.
Idris said positive stories showcasing Nigeria’s progress could also make newspaper headlines, urging journalists to use their platforms to promote national unity and inspire hope, particularly among young people.
He described as a misconception the notion that journalism must always be adversarial, stressing that the media could hold public institutions accountable while reporting developments that encourage national aspirations.
“Every headline does not always need to be critical. You need a headline that inspires us as a nation, a headline that promotes unity and headlines that inspire aspirations in our young people,” he said.
Speaking at the unveiling of the artificial intelligence-powered newsroom, the minister described the initiative as a significant milestone in the evolution of Media Trust Limited, one of Nigeria’s established media organisations.
He congratulated the management and staff of the company on the investment, noting that it had grown from modest beginnings into a multimedia organisation comprising Daily Trust, Aminiya, Trust TV, Trust Radio and digital platforms.
According to him, integrating the organisation’s various platforms into a converged newsroom would enable it to deliver credible information seamlessly across print, broadcast and digital channels.
Idris urged Media Trust to make the facility a centre of innovation, investigative journalism and responsible storytelling, capable of highlighting national challenges, celebrating achievements and contributing to informed public discourse.
The minister also emphasised the importance of fact-checking, warning that advances in artificial intelligence, including AI-generated content and manipulated videos and images, had made information verification increasingly critical.
On the 2027 general elections, Idris said the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process depended partly on the integrity of the information available to voters.
He urged journalists to uphold fairness, transparency and accuracy, avoid sensationalism and unsubstantiated allegations, and clearly distinguish facts from opinions and fiction in election-related reporting.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to press freedom, describing the media as an indispensable partner in national development and democratic governance.
In his remarks, Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi, commended the Media Trust Group for its contributions to national development, noting that the organisation provided livelihoods for many Nigerians.
Namadi urged media professionals to maintain the ethical standards of the profession and deploy their platforms to promote national unity.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Media Trust Group, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, recalled that the organisation was established in Kaduna State in 1998 and had since recorded significant growth, including its transition from print journalism to media convergence.
Yusuf urged media professionals to uphold fairness in their dealings with everyone, including those who considered them adversaries.
He acknowledged that the organisation was not perfect but said it remained committed to maintaining professional standards.
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