Speaking at the National Unveiling of the World Public
Relations Forum, WPRF, Abuja 2026, held on Monday in Abuja, the minister warned
that Nigeria faces existential reputational threats from foreign actors who
seek to distort facts and weaken national unity.

“We must come to terms with existential reputational threats
to our national brand, in which external purveyors of untruth are
mischaracterizing our nation as a destination for a so-called persecution of
people based on their religious faiths.

“This is propaganda externally woven by those who want to
weaken our unity. For the umpteenth time, I am emphatic that there’s no iota of
truth in the claim of a ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria.”

Idris emphasized that such disinformation campaigns are
designed to sow division and must be met with a coordinated communication
response anchored on facts, integrity, and professional ethics.

“I therefore urge us to use the instruments of public
relations, crafted in truths and facts, to vehemently reject these despicable
single narratives about Nigeria,” he said.

Idris stressed that responsible communication is now a
national duty in the digital era where the speed of information has surpassed
the speed of reflection.

He observed that “words now travel faster than thought, and
opinions often outrun truth,” underscoring the need for communicators to be
guided by truth, empathy, and service to the public good.

He linked this moral imperative to President Bola Tinubu’s
Renewed Hope Agenda, noting: “The Renewed Hope vision seeks to rebuild trust
between government and the people—trust anchored on openness, engagement, and
shared purpose. Communication is the lifeblood of that trust.”

As host of the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum
2026, Nigeria, he said, is taking its rightful place as a leader in global
communication ethics.

“Today’s gathering is a bold statement—that under the
visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,
Nigeria is stepping forward as the Biggest, Brightest, and Boldest voice for
ethical and responsible communication in Africa and beyond,” Idris added.

The minister commended the Global Alliance for Public
Relations and Communication Management, GA, led by Professor Justin Green, and
the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, under Dr Ike Neliaku, for
bringing global attention to Nigeria through the WPRF hosting rights.

He recalled President Tinubu’s assurance to the
international community that “You have no better friend and partner than
Nigeria.”

In a stirring call to action, the minister charged all
communicators, journalists, and public officers to rise to the challenge of
responsible communication.

“Let this unveiling today be a call to conscience. To
practitioners: hold the line of truth. To the media: inform with integrity. To
public officers: communicate with transparency. To citizens: speak with
empathy,” he stated.

He is optimistic that WPRF Abuja 2026 will be remembered as
a milestone in reshaping Nigeria’s global image.

“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is reshaping its
global image. Let this Forum be remembered as the moment when Africa’s largest
democracy led the world in defining what it means to communicate with
conscience,” he said.

The theme of the WPRF Abuja 2026 is “Responsible
Communication: The Voice of the World”